Resistance Training and Injection Treatment for Achilles Enthesopathy

Bispebjerg Hospital

Status: Active, not recruiting

Conditions: Achilles Entesopathy

Treatments: Drug: Local anesthesia injections; Drug: Corticosteroid injection

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04232358

H-19041374

Details and patient eligibility

About

Achilles enthesopathy is a common and often long-lasting injury among exercising individuals. Very little is known regarding the effect of different treatment strategies.

The purpose of the study is to evaluate two treatment strategies for achilles enthesopathy: Resistance training and restricted loading + corticosteroid injection compared to resistance training and restricted loading + local anesthesia injection.

50 patients with achilles enthesopathy are randomly assigned to the two treatment groups in this double blinded RCT.

Full description

Achilles enthesopathy is a common and often long-lasting injury among exercising individuals. Symptoms are pain and swelling at the calcaneal insertion of the achilles tendon during and after exercise. Achilles entesopathy has not been thoroughly investigated and consequently, very little is known regarding the effect of different treatment strategies.

The purpose of the study is to evaluate two treatment strategies for achilles enthesopathy: Resistance training and restricted loading + corticosteroid injection compared to resistance training and restricted loading + local anesthesia injection.

It is hypothesized that treatment that includes corticosteroid injection is more effective than treatment that includes injection with local anaesthesia.

50 patients with achilles enthesopathy are randomly assigned to the two treatment groups in this double blinded RCT.

Enrollment: 50 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 65 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Pain from the achilles tendon insertion/heel for at least 3 months
• Achilles entesopathy verified by ultrasound
• Between 18 and 65 years of age

Exclusion criteria

• Prior surgery in the leg with the exception of knee arthroscopy
• Known medial conditions including diabetes or rheumatologic diseases
• Taking pain medication regularly
• Injection therapy for treatment of achilles entesopathy within the last 6 months

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Quadruple Blind

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50 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

Corticosteroid injections + resistance training

Experimental group

Description:

Corticosteroid injections every 4 weeks until symptoms resolve with a maximum of 3 injections + resistance training at home instructed via a smart phone training app and avoidance of pain aggravating activities for 3 months

Treatment:

Drug: Corticosteroid injection

Local anesthesia injections + resistance training

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

Local anesthesia injections every 4 weeks until symptoms resolve with a maximum of 3 injections + resistance training at home instructed via a smart phone training app and avoidance of pain aggravating activities for 3 months

Treatment:

Drug: Local anesthesia injections