Eccentric Exercise for Chronic Mid-portion Achilles Tendinopathy

Plain-language summary

Chronic pain and disability are unfortunately common in Achilles tendon pain. Outcome after surgery is often poor. Also tendon pain can be resistant to treatment and may lead to cessation of hobbies or careers. Recently eccentric exercise (defined as muscle loading where tension develops as physical lengthening occurs) has become a cornerstone in managing tendon pain due to an increasing amount of favorable research. Eccentric exercises are considered to be non-invasive, safe, and appear to be important for a successful outcome. One exercise program has been extensively adopted in research and clinical practice for Achilles pain. It recommends individuals perform 180 repetitions a day. However there appears to be little scientific rationale for this number. Consequently there may be significant implications for patient compliance, satisfaction, and overall treatment efficacy in a strategy which is encouraged to be uncomfortable. Fifty two adults (18-70 years old), with mid-Achilles tendon pain will be randomised to standard treatment (180 repetitions) or to a group where individuals are allowed to do what they can. Participants will be recruited from participating physiotherapy departments (health centres and hospital departments) across NHS Forth Valley. All individuals will be required to complete the same type of eccentric exercise for six weeks attending an initial assessment and two follow-up appointments at three and six weeks. Thereafter participants will be discharged if better, or continue with individual care where appropriate. It is hoped this pilot study will establish if future larger scale investigation is warranted examining whether it is necessary to subject individuals to 180 repetitions a day in an activity recommended to be uncomfortable. Also will participant satisfaction differ between exercise groups? If further investigation is warranted this pilot may provide population specific data for future sample size calculations, and may provide a suitable methodology for such investigations.

Who can participate

What they're measuring

Trial details