Dataset Information

Clinical effectiveness of pulsed electromagnetic field therapy as an adjunct treatment to eccentric exercise for Achilles tendinopathy: a randomised controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The Achilles tendon is the largest and strongest tendon in the human body. Achilles tendinopathy (AT) is a common clinical problem with Achilles overuse. Eccentric exercise is often used as an initial treatment for these patients. Most patients with AT experienced moderate to severe pain, limiting the incentive to perform eccentric exercise. It is difficult for them to complete eccentric exercise for 3 months consecutively to obtain significant improvements. Using PEMF as an adjunct, there could be immediate pain relief and improved response to eccentric exercise by modulating the mechanical properties of the Achilles tendon. Participants may experience less pain while performing eccentric exercises to increase compliance with the rehabilitation programme.

Methods

This prospective randomised double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial aims to investigate the treatment effects of PEMF for participants with AT. All participants are randomised into two groups: the intervention group (n = 20; active PEMF treatment and eccentric exercise) and the control group (n = 20; sham treatment and eccentric exercise). Researchers perform self-reported, functional and ultrasonographic outcomes during baseline assessment, 4 weeks, 8 weeks follow-ups, and 3 and 6 months follow-ups after the commencement of the PEMF treatment.

Discussion

AT is a common clinical condition affecting athletes and sedentary populations. It is essential to investigate treatment adjuncts to improve rehabilitation outcomes for these patients. This trial may demonstrate the effectiveness of PEMF in relieving pain, improving function, and restoring mechanical changes of the tendon in participants with AT.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05316961. Registered on 7th April 2022.

SUBMITTER: Ko VM

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10258964 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Clinical effectiveness of pulsed electromagnetic field therapy as an adjunct treatment to eccentric exercise for Achilles tendinopathy: a randomised controlled trial.

Ko Violet Man-Chi VM He Xin X Fu Sai-Chuen SC Yung Patrick Shu-Hang PS Ling Samuel Ka-Kin SK

Trials 20230612 1

<h4>Background</h4>The Achilles tendon is the largest and strongest tendon in the human body. Achilles tendinopathy (AT) is a common clinical problem with Achilles overuse. Eccentric exercise is often used as an initial treatment for these patients. Most patients with AT experienced moderate to severe pain, limiting the incentive to perform eccentric exercise. It is difficult for them to complete eccentric exercise for 3 months consecutively to obtain significant improvements. Using PEMF as an a ...[more]

PMID: 37308969

Similar Datasets

Project description:BackgroundMid-portion Achilles tendinopathy is a common musculoskeletal condition characterised by degeneration of the Achilles tendon, which causes pain and disability. Multiple non-surgical treatments have been advocated for this condition including calf muscle eccentric exercise and in-shoe heel lifts. Although adherence is challenging, there is evidence to suggest that calf muscle eccentric exercise is effective in decreasing pain and improving function in people with Achilles tendinopathy. Heel lifts reduce ankle joint dorsiflexion and Achilles tendon strain, however their efficacy in the management of Achilles tendinopathy is unclear. This article describes the design of a parallel-group randomised trial comparing the efficacy of heel lifts to calf muscle eccentric exercise for Achilles tendinopathy.MethodsNinety-two participants with Achilles tendinopathy will be randomised to one of two groups: (i) a heel lift group that will receive pre-fabricated 12 mm in-shoe heel lifts (Clearly Adjustable®), or (ii) an exercise group that will be advised to carry out a calf muscle eccentric exercise program (twice a day, 7 days a week, for 12 weeks). Outcome measures will be obtained at baseline, 2, 6 and 12 weeks; the primary endpoint for assessing efficacy being 12 weeks. The primary outcome measure will be the total score of the Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment - Achilles (VISA-A) questionnaire. Secondary outcome measures will include thickness and integrity of the Achilles tendon (using ultrasound tissue characterisation [UTC]), participant perception of treatment effect on pain and function (using the 7-point Patient Global Impression of Change scale), severity of pain at the Achilles tendon (using a 100 mm visual analogue scale) in the previous week, health status (using the EuroQol-5D-5L™ questionnaire), physical activity levels (using the 7-day Recall Physical Activity Questionnaire) and calf muscle function (using the standing heel rise test). Data will be analysed using the intention to treat principle.DiscussionThe HEALTHY trial (Heel lifts versus calf muscle eccentric Exercise for AchiLles TendinopatHY) is the first randomised trial to compare the efficacy of heel lifts to calf muscle eccentric exercise in reducing pain and improving function in people with Achilles tendinopathy. A pragmatically designed trial was developed to ensure that if the interventions are found to be effective, the findings can be readily implemented in clinical practice.Trial registrationAustralian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12617001225303. Registered on August 22nd, 2017.

Project description:BackgroundThere is no consensus regarding the treatment of Achilles insertional tendinopathies. Eccentric training remains the main choice in the conservative treatment of this illness; however, the good results in the management of non-insertional Achilles tendinopathy were not replicated in the insertional condition. Low energy shock wave therapy has been described as an alternative to these patients, but has yet to be empirically tested.HypothesisShock wave therapy, adjunctive to the eccentric strengthening protocol, will improve measures of pain and function.DesignDouble blind, placebo-controlled, parallel groups, randomised clinical trial.Materials and methods93 patients with a diagnosis of chronic insertional tendinopathy, referred from primary or secondary healthcare services, will be assessed and enrolled in this study. They will be divided into two groups (randomised by sequentially numbered identical envelopes, which will be administered serially to participants), one containing the combination of low energy shock wave and eccentric exercises, as treatment and the other comprehending the exercises and the placebo treatment (an apparatus placed in the therapeutic head). The assessments will occur in 2, 4, 6, 12 and 24 weeks. Patients will be evaluated primarily by the Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment-Achilles questionnaire and secondarily by the visual analogue scale, Algometry, the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society scale, the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score and the 12-item Short Form Health Survey. We will use comparison of two proportions via relative frequency analysis, the Pearson Correlation the χ2 test and the analysis of variance for statistical analyses.DiscussionThis study intends to demonstrate if the association of the eccentric exercise programme with the shock wave therapy can produce good results regarding the treatment of the Achilles insertional tendinopathy. In an attempt to prevent the high costs and complications associated with the surgical intervention, we will try to prove this combination as a viable therapeutic option in the conservative management of this prevalent condition. The strengths of the study are the design and the novelty of the combination of methods. The main limitation is the short follow-up course.Ethics and disseminationThe study is registered in the Clinical Trials database (protocol number: 8094833648737701) and was approved by the University Ethics Committee (number: 1373481).Trial registration number8094833648737701 (NCT02757664); Pre-results.

Project description:ObjectiveTo study whether a high volume injection without corticosteroids improves clinical outcome in addition to usual care for adults with chronic midportion Achilles tendinopathy.DesignPatient and assessor blinded, placebo controlled randomised clinical trial.SettingSports medicine department of a large district general hospital, the Netherlands.Participants80 adults (aged 18-70 years) with clinically diagnosed chronic midportion Achilles tendinopathy and neovascularisation on ultrasonography. 39 were randomised to a high volume injection without corticosteroids and 41 to placebo.InterventionsParticipants were instructed to perform an exercise programme for 24 weeks (usual care) combined with one 50 mL high volume injection of saline and lidocaine (intervention group) or one 2 mL placebo injection of saline and lidocaine (placebo group) at baseline.Main outcome measuresPrimary outcome was pain and function assessed using the validated Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment-Achilles (VISA-A) questionnaire at 24 weeks (analysed using a generalised estimation equations model). Secondary outcomes were patient satisfaction, return to sport, degree of ultrasonographic Doppler flow, visual analogue scale on 10 hop test, power and flexibility of the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles, pain detect questionnaire for neuropathic pain, and pain coping inventory. Participants were evaluated at baseline and at 2, 6, 12, and 24 weeks.ResultsOnly one participant (1%) was lost to follow-up. The estimated mean VISA-A score improved significantly, from 40.4 (95% confidence interval 32.0 to 48.7) at baseline to 59.1 (50.4 to 67.8) at 24 weeks in the high volume injection group and from 36.9 (27.1 to 46.8) to 58.5 (47.9 to 69.1) in the placebo group. The VISA-A score over time did not differ between the groups (adjusted between group difference at 24 weeks 0.5 points, 95% confidence interval -17.8 to 18.8). No significant between group differences were found for patient satisfaction (21/37 (57%) v 19/39 (49%) patients, P=0.50) and return to desired sport (15/29 (52%) v 19/31 (61%) patients active in sports, P=0.65) at 24 weeks. None of the other secondary outcomes differed between the two groups.ConclusionsA high volume injection without corticosteroids in addition to usual care is not effective for symptom reduction in patients with chronic midportion Achilles tendinopathy. On the basis of our findings, we cannot recommend the use of a high volume injection in this patient group.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT02996409.

Project description:BackgroundMid-portion Achilles Tendinopathy (AT) is a common musculoskeletal condition with varying rehabilitation success rates. Despite the prevalence of this condition, a considerable proportion of individuals experience persisting pain and functional deficits. Current treatment approaches bias the biomedical model which emphasises physically treating and loading the tendon. Overall, there is a lack of consideration for the central nervous system that is commonly implicated in chronic injuries. The aim of this pilot study was to explore the feasibility of combining Action Observation Therapy (AOT), a treatment technique which targets central changes and influences motor learning, with eccentric exercises in the treatment of mid-portion AT. AOT involves the observation of movements and is commonly followed by the physical performance of these same movements.MethodologyThis was a double-blinded randomised controlled pilot feasibility study. All participants underwent the 12-week Alfredson eccentric training protocol. The intervention group watched videos of the exercises prior to performing these exercises, whilst the control group watched nature videos before performing the same exercises. Study feasibility was the primary outcome measure, with the Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment- Achilles (VISA-A) selected as the primary clinical outcome measure.ResultsThirty participants were recruited, reflecting a 75% eligibility rate and 100% of eligible participants enrolled in the study. The retention rate at week 12 was 80%. At week six the mean VISA-A score improved by 18.1 (95% CI 10.2-26.0) in the intervention group and 7.7 (95% CI 0.3-14.9) in the control group, and 75% and 33% of participants in the intervention and control group respectively exceeded the minimal clinically important difference (MCID). At week 12 the mean VISA-A score from baseline improved by 22.25 (95% CI 12.52-31.98) in the intervention group and 16.5-(95% CI 8.47-24.53) in the control group, equating to 75% and 58% in each group respectively exceeding the MCID.ConclusionThe positive feasibility outcomes and exploratory data from the clinical outcome measures suggest that a larger scaled RCT is warranted to further investigate the impact of AOT in the rehabilitation of mid-portion AT. Trial registration ISRCTN58161116, first registered on the 23/12/2020.

Project description:IntroductionPatellar tendinopathy (PT) rehabilitation programmes frequently incorporate eccentric exercise (EE), where participants have limited control over the range of motion, speed, force production and load. Newly developed training protocols that employ visual feedback with specialised devices offer controlled management of loads, speeds and forces across the full range of motion, potentially providing greater benefits.ObjectiveThis protocol outlines a randomised controlled trial designed to compare the effects of a visuomotor torque feedback (TF) protocol with a traditional EE protocol on the rehabilitation of PT over a 6-week period. Our primary objective is to evaluate whether the TF protocol reduces pain and disability more effectively than the EE protocol in individuals with PT. Secondary objectives include analysing structural and architectural changes in the patellar tendon and quadriceps femoris muscles, as well as examining motor unit discharge dynamics in response to EE and TF training. Lastly, we aim to compare these dynamics and structural changes between healthy controls and individuals with PT.MethodsThirty two individuals with PT and twenty six healthy controls will be recruited. The PT group will be subdivided into an EE group, and a TF group, with both groups undergoing a 6-week training programme. The EE group will perform their exercises two times per day, while the TF group will do so 2-3 times a week. In individuals with PT, the primary outcomes will be the Victorian Institute of Sport-Patella (VISA-P) questionnaire to measure disability/physical function, and pain with a Numerical Rating Scale (NRS). To gain insights on mechanisms of action for potential improvements, motor unit discharge characteristics of the quadriceps femoris muscles will be assessed with high-density surface electromyography. Additionally, we will measure structural/architectural changes to the patellar tendon and quadriceps femoris muscles using B-mode ultrasonography and shear-wave elastography.Ethics and disseminationThis study was approved by the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Ethical Review Committee from the University of Birmingham (ERN_2257-Jun2024). The results of this study will be disseminated in peer-reviewed journals and at international conferences.Trial registration numberISRCTN15821610.

Dataset Information

Clinical effectiveness of pulsed electromagnetic field therapy as an adjunct treatment to eccentric exercise for Achilles tendinopathy: a randomised controlled trial.

Background

Methods

Discussion

Trial registration

Publications

Clinical effectiveness of pulsed electromagnetic field therapy as an adjunct treatment to eccentric exercise for Achilles tendinopathy: a randomised controlled trial.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets