Changes in Achilles tendon volume in response to different calf exercises among people with midportion tendinopathy and healthy people

Not Applicable

• Conditions: Achilles tendinopathy; Musculoskeletal - Other muscular and skeletal disorders; Physical Medicine / Rehabilitation - Physiotherapy; Injuries and Accidents - Other injuries and accidents

• Registration Number: ACTRN12620000306910
• Lead Sponsor: Associate Professor Peter Malliaras

Brief Summary

Not available

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Results First Posted: 1900-01-01
• Study Start: 2020-03-05
• Last Update Posted: 10 March 2020

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: ot yet recruiting
• Sex: Male
• Target Recruitment: 42

Inclusion Criteria

inclusion criteria for MAT group
i)Male participants, aged from 18 to 70, ii) diagnosed with Achilles tendinopathy (midportion) based on the following criteria: a)Pain localized to the tendon (2-7cm above the calcaneum), b)Pain during or after Achilles loading (e.g. walking, running), c) Morning stiffness or pain on movement after rest, d) Ultrasound confirmation of midportion Achilles pathology (tendon thickening, hypoechoic regions), iii) history of Achilles pain > 3months, iv) Ankle joint examination, and especially passive plantar-flexion are essentially normal, v) score of <70 on the VISA-A questionnaire, vi) be willing not to receive any physical therapy or other treatment for their Achilles tendon pain during the study period (3 weeks), vii) be willing to attend the laboratory setting 3 times with one week interval between sessions to perform the isometric exercise interventions. viii)Fluent in both written and spoken English, and ix) Able to provide informed written consent.

Inclusion criteria for healthy controls:
i)healthy male participants, ii) aged from 18 to 70, iii) Fluent in both written and spoken English, and iv) Able to provide informed written consent

Exclusion Criteria

exclusion criteria for MAT group
i) Exercise treatment for Achilles tendon pain within the last 3 months, ii) Previous Achilles injection in the last 3 months, iii) History of Achilles rupture, iv) Surgery for Achilles tendinopathy, v) Systemic inflammatory disease (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis), vi) Inherited connective tissue disorders (e.g Marfan’s syndrome), vii) People diagnosed with hypermobility joint syndrome (e.g. Ehlers-Danlos syndrome), viii) History of musculoskeletal injury of the affected lower limb in the last 6 to 12 months (ankle, knee or hip injury/pathology),ix) Injury or pathology to the spine that may interfere with execution of the exercise interventions in the study, xii) Participants undertaking antibiotic treatment in the last three months from start of recruitment (Fluoroquinolone antibiotics)., and xiii) Participants on cholesterol-lowering medications (Statins) in the last two years.

Exclusion criteria for healthy controls:
i)Participants with structural abnormalities in AT detected in the diagnostic ultrasound (tendon thickening, areas with hypoechogenicity), ii) history of lower limb injury and pathology of the dominant side in the last 6-12 months.

Study & Design

• Study Type: Interventional
• Study Design: Not specified