The Influence of Eccentric Training on the Volume and Vascularisation of the Rotator Cuff in Patients With Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy and Healthy Subjects
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Completed
- Sponsor
- University Ghent
- Enrollment
- 60
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Tendon vascularisation examination.
Study Overview
Brief Summary
Patients with rotator cuff tendinopathy make up a large part of the population in physiotherapy practice. The rotator cuff, a shoulder muscle group, plays an important role in causing pain. Tendons suffer large compression and friction, which can lead to degeneration of these tendons. Rehabilitation often leads to unsatisfying results.
In Achilles and patella tendinopathy, a new training program called eccentric training has shown very good results. Eccentric training contains exercises during which a force has to be resisted while the muscle lengthens instead of shortens. This would have a larger influence on tendon tissue. Some small studies also show promising results of eccentric training in patients with rotator cuff tendinopathy but the mechanisms behind these results remain unclear.
To investigate this, 30 patients with rotator cuff tendinopathy and 30 healthy subjects will be evaluated before and immediately after performing the exercise. Three measurements will be done: ultrasonographic measurement of tendon thickness, power Doppler imaging and measurement of microcirculation around the tendon with Oxygen to see. All measurements are non-invasive, pain free and without risks for the human body.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Non Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Parallel
- Primary Purpose
- Treatment
- Masking
- Single (Participant)
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 18 Years to 40 Years (Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria
- •Male/ Female
- •18-40 years old
- •Unilateral shoulder pain for at least 3 months
- •Pain of at least 3/10 on a visual analogue scale
- •Painful arc or pain at end range abduction
- •2/3 impingement tests positive
- •2/4 resistance tests positive
- •Pain at insertion rotator cuff
Exclusion Criteria
- •Spurling test positive
- •Shoulder surgery in the past
- •Osteoarthritis shoulder
- •Full thickness ruptures
- •Inclusion Criteria Healthy subjects:
- •Male/ Female
- •18-40 years old
- •Exclusion Criteria Healthy subjects:
- •Shoulder pain during the last 3 months
- •Shoulder surgery in the past
- •Neck pain or disability
- •Systemic disease (e.g. Marfan, Ehlers Danlos,...)
Arms & Interventions
Healthy subjects
Intervention: Eccentric exercise (Behavioral)
Rotator cuff tendinopathy
Intervention: Eccentric exercise (Behavioral)
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Tendon vascularisation examination.
Time Frame: After 30 minutes rest, before performing the exercise.
Power Doppler ultrasound examination is used.
Tendon thickness measurement
Time Frame: After 30 minutes rest, before performing the exercise.
Grey scale ultrasound examination is used.
Microcirculation around the tendon examination.
Time Frame: After 30 minutes rest, before performing the exercise.
Oxygen to see (spectrophotometry and laser Doppler) will be used.
Secondary Outcomes
- Tendon thickness measurements.(10 minutes after performing the exercise.)
- Tendon vascularisation examination.(10 minutes after performing the exercise.)
- Microcirculation around the tendon examination.(10 minutes after performing the exercise.)