Effectiveness of Isometric vs. Eccentric Exercise in Chronic Achilles Tendinopathy

Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

Status: Completed

Conditions: Tendinopathy

Treatments: Other: Isometric exercise; Other: Eccentric exercise

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02732782

AZ: ZMV14-070102/16-17 (Other Grant/Funding Number)

PR020151100167

Details and patient eligibility

About

This is a prospective single blinded randomised controlled trial with a 12-week intervention period and a half-year follow-up period. The main purpose is to determine the effects of isometric exercise on mechanical, morphological and functional tendon properties versus eccentric exercise in chronic Achilles tendinopathy.

Full description

This research project was funded by means of the "Bundesinstitut für Sportwissenschaft" based on a resolution of the German Federal Parliament.

Enrollment: 45 patients

Sex: Male

Ages: 20 to 50 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Chronic (3 months or more) condition of unilateral Achilles tendinopathy confirmed by a medical doctor based on ultrasound
• age 18-60
• male
• VISA-A Score of at least 80

Exclusion criteria

• bilateral tendinopathy
• any systemic or inflammatory diseases (i. e. Diabetes, Arthritis)
• surgery on lower extremities in the past
• corticoid injections in the last 12 months

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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45 participants in 3 patient groups

Isometric exercise

Experimental group

Description:

Isometric exercise (90% maximum voluntary contraction (MVC), 12 weeks, 4 times a week, 5 sets of 4 repetitions a 3 seconds)

Treatment:

Other: Isometric exercise

Eccentric exercise

Active Comparator group

Description:

Eccentric training ("Alfredson" approach, 12 weeks, 2 sets per day with extended and two sets per day with bended knee, 15 repetitions per set)

Treatment:

Other: Eccentric exercise

Control

No Intervention group

Description:

Control, no intervention