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Treatment of Early Phase Achilles Tendinopathy - the Effect of NSAIDs

The Effect of NSAIDs in the Early Phase of Achilles Tendinopathy

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03401177
Enrollment
70
Registered
2018-01-17
Start date
2018-01-15
Completion date
2020-04-27
Last updated
2020-07-09

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

Conditions

Tendon Injuries, Achilles Tendinopathy, Inflammation

Brief summary

this study evaluates the addition of initial short term NSAID treatment to physiotherapy prescribed exercise treatment in patient with early phase tendinopathy. Half of the participants will initially receive NSAID (naproxen) for 7 days, while the other half will receive a placebo, where after both groups will be subjected to 3 months heavy slow resistance training.

Detailed description

NSAID is effective in short term pain relief in musculoskeletal disorders, but little is known about the long-term effect in early phase tendinopathy, when used as a supplement to treatment as usual, namely heavy slow resistance training and training load reduction. In this study, NSAIDs will be used, which works through COX inhibition, which again inhibits Prostaglandins, in this way investigators attempt to dampen the initial inflammation and pronounced cell activity that is thought to be present in early phase tendinopathy. With this project, it will be attempted to investigate whether initial dampening adds to the effect achieved through heavy load resistance training, which is thought to stimulate structural repair and regeneration in the tendon, by applying appropriate load to the tendon tissue, thereby stimulating the tendon cells to repair and regeneration.

Interventions

Naproxen is used as a tool to dampen the inflammation thought to be present in early phase Tendinopathy

DRUGPlacebo Oral Tablet

Placebo is used, to provide a control to the active group.

Heavy slow resistance training - used in both groups subsequent to the initial week of NSAID or placebo treatment.

Sponsors

Bispebjerg Hospital
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
TRIPLE (Subject, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Activity related pain in the achilles tendon * Palpation pain in the achilles tendon * Onset of symptoms within the last 3 months

Exclusion criteria

* Previous injury in the achilles tendon on the ipsilateral side. * Recent infection around the achilles tendon * Previous surgery in the achilles tendon. * Contraindications for NSAID treatment. * NSAID treatment for the current injury * Medication with NSAID interaction

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment - Achilles (VISA-A)0-3 monthsStandardised score of functional capability, in patient with achilles tendinopathy. Total score will be reported; scale (0-100). 100=full functional capacity 0=poor functional capacity.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Weight0-3 monthsWeight (kg)
Height0-3 monthsHeight (cm)
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) - scannings0-3 months3 Tesla MRI scanning of the achilles tendon.
Ultrasonography -Power doppler0-1 week; 0-3 monthsFor measuring tendon vascularisation, area with power doppler signal (cm\^2)
Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment - Achilles (VISA-A)0-1 week; 0-12 monthsStandardised score of functional capability, in patient with achilles tendinopathy. Total score will be reported; scale (0-100). 100=full functional capacity 0=poor functional capacity.
Questionnaires - activity (time consumption)0-1 week; 0-3 months; 0-12 monthsQuestions on physical activity: time consumption (hours/week) Hours of training/week; Hours of training applying load on the achilles tendon/week; Scale (continues)
Questionnaires - activity (number of sessions)0-1 week; 0-3 months; 0-12 monthsQuestions on physical activity: number of sessions/week Number of training sessions/week. Number of training sessions applying load on the achilles tendon/week; Scale (continues)
Questionnaires - activity (intensity)0-1 week; 0-3 months; 0-12 monthsQuestions on physical activity intensity: time consumption for strenuous activity (hours/week).
Questionnaires - Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) - Pain0-1 week; 0-3 months; 0-12 monthsQuestions on pain, both during activity and during rest. Pain during activity, (NRS); Scale (0-10) Pain after activity, (NRS); Scale (0-10) Pain at rest, (NRS); Scale (0-10) Pain I the morning, (NRS); Scale (0-10) Maximal pain during the past week, (NRS); Scale (0-10)
Ultrasonography - Greyscale0-1 week; 0-3 monthsGreyscale ultrasound for measuring tendon thickness (mm)

Countries

Denmark

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 15, 2026