Early Progressive Strength Exercise for Treatment of Acute Achilles Tendon Rupture.

Aalborg University Hospital

Status: Completed

Conditions: Achilles Tendon Rupture

Treatments: Other: Standard exercises plus Early progressive exercises; Other: Standard exercises

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04726189

N-20200041

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this trial is to investigate the efficacy of standard care versus standard care combined with an early progressive exercise program in improving the function of the tendon and leg muscles after non-surgical treated Achilles tendon rupture

Full description

Acute Achilles tendon rupture often results in long-term muscular deficits. Patients struggle to return to work and sports with high load on the lower leg. Early functional rehabilitation has shown good results, but research on resistance exercise is scarce and the reporting of the specifics of the exercises are poor.

Enrollment: 82 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 65 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Acute total Achilles tendon rupture treated non-surgically
• Diagnosed within 3 days (of their injury)
• Age 18 - 65, able and willing to participate in the intervention
• Able to speak and understand Danish

Exclusion criteria

• Achilles tendon rupture close to insertion on calcaneus or in the musculo-tendinous junction of the triceps surae
• Previous Achilles tendon rupture or other conditions in either leg causing lower leg disability (pain, deficits in strength or range of movement)
• Treated with Fluoroquinolons or Corticosteroids within the last 6 months
• Diabetes or rheumatic diseases
• Severe medical illness: ASA score higher than or equal to 3. (ASA: American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification system)

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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82 participants in 2 patient groups

Standard care exercises

Active Comparator group

Description:

This is the currently used treatment in the nine weeks of immobilisation with an orthosis.

Treatment:

Other: Standard exercises

Early progressive strength exercise

Experimental group

Description:

This exercise program initiates early (second week) and continues with resistance exercises with progression of the load according to individual participant toleration.

Treatment:

Other: Standard exercises plus Early progressive exercises