NCT07519148

Effects of Tissue Flossing on Pain and Functional Performance in Patients With Achilles Tendinopathy

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 30 (actual)
• Sponsor: Riphah International University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 20 Years – 45 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

This study is a randomized controlled trial (RCT) investigating the effectiveness of tissue flossing as an adjunctive therapy for Achilles tendinopathy. Thirty participants, aged 20-45 years with a clinical diagnosis of Achilles tendinopathy (\>6 weeks), will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. The intervention group will receive a single session of tissue flossing (involving an elastic band wrapped from mid-calf to heel under moderate tension, followed by active ankle exercises) combined with conventional eccentric loading exercises. The control group will receive conventional eccentric loading exercises only. The primary outcome measures will be pain intensity, assessed using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS); ankle range of motion, measured via the Weight-Bearing Lunge Test (WBLT); functional limitation, evaluated with the Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS); and jump performance, measured by countermovement jump height using the My Jump Lab app. Assessments will be conducted at baseline, after the intervention session, and at a one-week follow-up. The study aims to determine if tissue flossing provides significant immediate and short-term improvements in pain and function, potentially offering a novel, low-cost supportive technique for rehabilitation.

Conditions

• Achilles Tendinopathy (AT)

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DEVICE	Tissue flossing	The intervention group receives a single session of tissue flossing combined with conventional treatment. The flossing protocol involves applying an elastic band (50-70% tension) from the mid-calf to the heel. While wrapped, participants perform active ankle range of motion and bodyweight heel raises for 2-3 minutes. This is immediately followed by the conventional treatment: eccentric loading exercises for the gastrocnemius (knee straight) and soleus (knee flexed 45°) muscles, consisting of 2 sets of 20 repetitions with a 5-minute rest between sets.
OTHER	Eccentric exercises	The control group will receive conventional treatment only, which consists of a standardized eccentric exercise program for the Achilles tendon. This protocol involves performing eccentric loading exercises for both the gastrocnemius muscle with the knee held straight and the soleus muscle with the knee flexed to 45 degrees. The dosage is set at two sets of twenty repetitions for each exercise, with a five-minute rest period provided between sets. This conventional regimen will be administered in three sessions over the course of one week. Participants in this group will not receive any form of tissue flossing intervention. All outcome measures, including pain, range of motion, functional performance, and jump height, will be assessed at baseline, after each treatment session, and at the one-week follow-up to evaluate progress.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-09-18
• Primary completion: 2026-01-30
• Completion: 2026-01-30
• First posted: 2026-04-09
• Last updated: 2026-04-09

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Pakistan