Feasibility of an Early Progressive Strength Exercise Programme for Acute Achilles Tendon Rupture

Aalborg University Hospital

Status: Completed

Conditions: Achilles Tendon Rupture

Treatments: Other: Resistance training

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04121377

N-20180072

Details and patient eligibility

About

The aim of this study is to investigate the feasibility of an early progressive exercise program for patients with Achilles tendon rupture treated non-surgically. The outcomes will concern the patient's acceptability of the intervention, adherence to the intervention and safety of the healing tendon.

Full description

Regardless of choice of either surgical or non-surgical treatment, long-term muscular deficits and a decreased function after Achilles tendon rupture is found up to 10 years later. The majority of the patients are of working age and a deficit in physical performance will have impact on returning to work and sports.

There has been promising results in treatments using early functional rehabilitation during the first eight weeks of treatment after both surgical and non-surgical treatment, but few studies has examined the effect of the exercises on its own. In general, descriptions of the exercise programs are lacking important information such as type, time of application, frequency, intensity and progression of the exercises.

The primary aim is to test the feasibility of an early progressive exercise program for patients with Achilles tendon rupture treated non-surgically. Feasibility in this study will be defined as successful patient acceptability and compliance of the exercise intervention.

Enrollment: 16 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 65 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

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

Exclusion criteria

• Insertional Achilles tendon rupture on calcaneus or rupture 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 Fluoroquinolones or Corticosteroids within the last 6 months
• Diabetes
• 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: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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16 participants in 1 patient group

Resistance exercise program

Experimental group

Description:

Early resistance exercise sessions and home program

Treatment:

Other: Resistance training