Influence of Placebo on Intratissue Percutaneous Electrolysis in Patellar Tendinopathy
- Conditions
- Patellar Tendinopathy
- Interventions
- Other: IPE not applied, participants believe they are receiving IPEOther: IPE not applied, participants believe they are receiving placeboOther: IPE applied, participants believe they are receiving placeboOther: IPE applied, participants believe they are receiving IPE
- Registration Number
- NCT04640337
- Lead Sponsor
- University of Valencia
- Brief Summary
The main aim of this study is to verify the influence of placebo on the effectiveness of Intratissue Percutaneous Electrolysis (IPE) in patients suffering from with chronic patellar tendinopathy (PT).
The secondary aim is to investigate the possible influence of the IPE on pain perception and conditioned pain modulation (CPM) in patients with chronic PT.
- Detailed Description
The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of placebo on the effectiveness of Intratissue Percutaneous Electrolysis (IPE) in patients with chronic PT. For this purpose a randomized clinical trial will be carried out, with a sample of patients diagnosed of chronic PT based on signs, symptoms and clinical examination. Subjects will be randomly allocated to four different groups: group E1, IPE will be applied, participants will believe they are receiving IPE; group E2, IPE will be applied, participants will believe they are receiving placebo; group P1, IPE will not be applied, participants will believe they are receiving IPE; and group P2, IPE will not be applied, participants will believe they are receiving placebo.
IPE treatment will consist of a total of 3 sessions, with a time interval of one week between the 1st and 2nd sessions and 2 weeks between the 2nd and 3rd sessions.
To evaluate the effect of intervention, the subjects will be assessed at baseline (V0), one week after the end of the intervention (V1) and 3 weeks after the intervention (V2).
In V0, sociodemographic (sex, age, profession, height, body mass index (BMI), sport activity, hours of sport per week) and clinical data (associated pathologies, affected lower limb, dominant lower limb, duration of symptoms) will be registered. In each assessment time information regarding BMI, sports activity, hours of sport per week and location of pain will be obtained. Moreover, in all assessments participants were evaluated for four physical performance tests, pain and functional scales, ultrasound examination, pressure pain thresholds, conditioned pain modulation, and expectations questionnaires.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- RECRUITING
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 60
- 18 years old or older
- presenting the following signs and symptoms of patellar tendinopathy: pain when jumping, landing, running o changing direction, pain at the inferior pole of the patella, Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment-Patella (VISA-P) score <80, symptoms duration of at least 3 months.
- prior knee surgery
- patients having received local corticosteroids injection in the tendon within the preceding 6 months
- patients presenting any inflammatory disease, metabolic bone disease, type II diabetes, fibromyalgia, hypercholesterolemia, pregnancy or chemotherapy within the 3 months prior to the study.
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- PARALLEL
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Group P1: IPE not applied, participants believe they are receiving IPE. IPE not applied, participants believe they are receiving IPE The needle will be inserted under the skin but the current will not be passing through. The subjects will see a shame video on the ultrasound screen so they will believe that the IPE is being performed. Group P2: IPE not applied, participants believe they are receiving placebo. IPE not applied, participants believe they are receiving placebo The needle will be inserted under the skin, subjects will be led to believe that the intensity of the current is below the threshold necessary to cause changes in the tissue. Group E2: IPE applied, participants believe they are receiving placebo. IPE applied, participants believe they are receiving placebo IPE will be applied following the standard protocol for PT. Subjects will be led to believe that the intensity of the current is below the threshold necessary to cause changes in the tissue. Group E1: IPE applied, participants believe they are receiving IPE. IPE applied, participants believe they are receiving IPE IPE will be applied following the standard protocol for PT. Participants will believe they are receiving IPE.
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Physical performance of the knee Three weeks post-intervention Physical performance of the knee will be assessed by the Single Leg Decline squat (SLDS), which consists of performing a squat with one leg on a decline board with an angle of 25º.
Cross-sectional area (CSA) of the patellar tendon Three weeks post-intervention CSA at rest, with a knee flexion of 20º, will be measured by ultrasonography.
Pain intensity Three weeks post-intervention Knee pain intensity reported by the patient will be assessed using a 100-mm visual analogue scale (VAS, 0-100, 0=minimum score, 100=maximum score). Higher values represent a better outcome (less pain).
Patellar tendon function Three weeks post-intervention Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment-Patellar Tendon (VISA-P, 0-100, 0=minimum score, 100=maximum score) will aso be used to evaluate function of the patellar tendon. A score between 80-100 points is considered as the optimal outcome.
Amount of neovascularity of the patellar tendon Three weeks post-intervention The amount (0=no vascularity, 1=low fow, 2=mild flow, 3=high flow) of neovascularity of the patellar tendon will be measured by ultrasonography.
Presence of neovascularity of the patellar tendon Three weeks post-intervention The presence (yes/no) and amount (0=no vascularity, 1=low fow, 2=mild flow, 3=high flow) of neovascularity of the patellar tendon will be measured by ultrasonography.
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Self-perceived change with the treatment Three weeks post-intervention Participants' will rate the results/outcomes obtained with the treatment by the Global rating of change scale (GROC) ((-7)-(+7), -7= very great deal worse, +7= very great deal better).
Pressure Pain Thresholds (PPT) Three weeks post-intervention PPTs will be recorded using an electronic algometer at the ipsilateral (affected) patellar tendon, the contralateral patellar tendon and the ipsilateral upper trapezius. Higher values represent a better outcome.
Self-perceived pain after treatment Three weeks post-intervention Self-perceived pain after treatment will be assessed by the question "What do you think your pain is like now (after treatment): more pain, less pain or the same pain intensity compared to before treatment?" (more pain, less pain, same pain).
Conditioned pain modulation (CPM) Three weeks post-intervention CPM will be tested using the upper extremity submaximal effort tourniquet test.
Patients' expectations Baseline Patients' expectations with the treatment will be registered using an add-hoc questionnaire consisting of 2 questions: "What do you think will be the intensity of your pain when this intervention takes effect?" (NPRS, 0-10, 10 severe pain, 0=no pain) and "Do you expect to have more pain, less pain or the same intensity of pain after treatment?" (more pain, less pain, same pain).
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
Mercè Balasch i Bernat
🇪🇸Valencia, Spain