Topical Capsaicin 0.025% as a treatment for Achilles tendinopathy. A prospective, double blinded, randomised controlled trial with multiple outcome measures.

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Phase 4

Study type

Interventional

Source

EU CTR

Registry ID

EUCTR2006-005471-18-GB

Enrollment

Registered

2007-08-20

Start date

2007-09-14

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2019-12-10

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Achilles Tendinopathy

Interventions

Trade Name: Zacin cream Pharmaceutical Form: Cream CAS Number: 404864 Other descriptive name: CAPSAICIN Concentration unit: % (W/W) perc

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: 1. Aged 18 - 65 years of age to ensure skeletal maturity, and try to exclude degenerative changes seen in the elderly. 2. Patients able to give informed consent. 3. Confirmed diagnosis of Achilles tendinopathy (tendinosis) of greater than 3 months duration - implying treatment is required as the condition is unlikely to resolve spontaneously. 4. Do not have any contraindications to the topical cream (e.g. allergies). Are the trial subjects under 18? no Number of subjects for this age range: F.1.2 Adults (18-64 years) yes F.1.2.1 Number of subjects for this age range F.1.3 Elderly (>=65 years) no F.1.3.1 Number of subjects for this age range

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: 1. Systemic inflammatory condition (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis) as a cause of the condition – i.e. requires additional treatment. 2. Pre-existing concurrent pathology or deformity that may be the cause of pain or functional deficits. 3. Previous history of surgery to the ankle / lower limb, specifically the Achilles tendon. 4. Any women who are or could possibly be pregnant.

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Main Objective: To investigate the efficacy of topically applied Capsaicin 0.025% combined with eccentric loading as a treatment for chronic Achilles tendinopathy.;Secondary Objective: ;Primary end point(s): The end of the trial will occur upon the final scheduled visit of the final patient to undertake the treatment. All treatment with the active and placebo creams will be ceased at 6 weeks from the patients start date.	—

Measure

Time frame

Main Objective: To investigate the efficacy of topically applied Capsaicin 0.025% combined with eccentric loading as a treatment for chronic Achilles tendinopathy.;Secondary Objective: ;Primary end point(s): The end of the trial will occur upon the final scheduled visit of the final patient to undertake the treatment. All treatment with the active and placebo creams will be ceased at 6 weeks from the patients start date.

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Countries

United Kingdom

Outcome results

None listed

Source: EU CTR (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026