TerminatedNot Applicable

A Comparison of Endoscopic Surgery and Exercise Therapy in Patients With Longstanding Achilles Tendinopathy

Stopped: recruitment difficulties due to recently introduced new surgical procedure

Norway10 participantsStarted 2017-04-19

Plain-language summary

Exercise is a preferred treatment modality for mid-portion achilles tendinopathy. Despite this, as many as 44 % of achilles tendinopathy patients do not respond to exercise treatment. Surgery for midportion achilles tendinopathy has for many years been done as an open procedure. New knowledge resulted in a variety of minimally invasive procedures and the development of endoscopic surgery. In this study, the effect of non-open surgery and conservative treatment (physiotherapy and exercises) will be compared.

Who can participate

Age range

20 Years – 65 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * diagnosis of mid-portion achilles tendinopathy * pain during at least 3 months * decreased function (a score less than 80 on VISA-A) Exclusion Criteria: * Physiotherapy during previous three months * history of major achilles trauma * cardiovascular, respiratory, systemic, or metabolic conditions limiting exercise tolerance

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

pain using The Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment - Achilles

Timeframe: 3 months (immediately following 12 week exercising)

pain using The Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment - Achilles questionnaire (VISA-A)

Timeframe: 6 months after 12 week exercising

Trial details

NCT IDNCT03025412

SponsorNorwegian University of Science and Technology

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2018-12-01

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Tendinopathy trials