The Effect of Loading Speed and Intensity During Exercise on the Immediate Structural Changes in the Achilles Tendon

NCT06057779 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: ONZ-2023-0238
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 34
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Aim: To assess the influence of loading speed and intensity during eccentric heel drop exercise on the immediate changes in Achilles tendon thickness and stiffness in healthy controls. Intervention: Three eccentric heel drop exercise protocols, different in loading speed and/or loading intensity will be compared. Each participant will perform a single protocol per session in a random sequence at 1-week intervals. Participants: a total of 34 healthy athletes will be included. Outcome measure: tendon thickness and stiffness will be measured at baseline and immediately following intervention with ultrasound imaging (B-mode) and shear wave elastography, respectively. Discussion: the study will determine whether an eccentric exercise intervention involving a low loading speed and high intensity could maximize the immediate reduction in thickness and associated increase in stiffness of the Achilles tendon compared with interventions involving a higher loading speed and lower intensity.

Conditions

Achilles Tendinopathy

Keywords

Achilles tendon

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Achilles tendon thickness

  Tendon anteroposterior diameter will be assessed 20 mm proximal to the posterosuperior calcaneal border using ultrasound imaging. The Achilles tendon is scanned at rest with the subject in the prone position and the foot passively maintained in a neutral position.

  Baseline and immediately following each protocol

• Achilles tendon cross-sectional area

  Tendon cross-sectional area of the Achilles tendon will be assessed 20 mm proximal to the posterosuperior calcaneal border using ultrasound imaging. The Achilles tendon is scanned at rest with the subject in the prone position and the foot passively maintained in a neutral position.

  Baseline and immediately following each protocol

• Achilles tendon stiffness

  Echogenicity of the Achilles tendon will be assessed 20 mm proximal to the posterosuperior calcaneal border using shear wave elastography. The Achilles tendon is scanned at rest with the subject in the prone position and the foot passively maintained in a 30° plantar flexion.

  Baseline and immediately following each protocol

Study Arms (3)

Slow and heavy exercise therapy

OTHER

Participants perform eccentric heel drop exercises into maximal dorsiflexion at slow speed.

Other: Slow and heavy exercise therapy

Slow and light exercise therapy

OTHER

Participants perform eccentric heel drop exercises into neutral ankle position at slow speed.

Other: Slow and light exercise therapy

Fast and heavy exercise therapy

OTHER

Participants perform eccentric heel drop exercises into maximal dorsiflexion at fast speed.

Other: Fast and heavy exercise therapy

Interventions

Slow and heavy exercise therapy OTHER

6 sets of 10 single leg isolated eccentric heel drops into maximal dorsiflexion at an exercise speed of 0.33 Hz, with 1-min rest period between each set.

Slow and heavy exercise therapy

Slow and light exercise therapy OTHER

6 sets of 10 single leg isolated eccentric heel drops into neutral ankle position at an exercise speed of 0.33 Hz, with 1-min rest period between each set.

Slow and light exercise therapy

Fast and heavy exercise therapy OTHER

6 sets of 30 single leg isolated eccentric heel drops into maximal dorsiflexion at an exercise speed of 1 Hz, with 1-min rest period between each set.

Fast and heavy exercise therapy

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 55 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Age 18 to 55 years
• Participate in recreational or competitive sport (at least 1x/week)

You may not qualify if:

• History of Achilles tendinopathy
• Presence of rheumatological disease
• Not able to complete an exercise programme

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University Hospital, Ghent: lead

Study Sites (1)

Vakgroep Revalidatiewetenschappen UZ Gent, 1B3

Ghent, Oost-Vlaanderen, 9000, Belgium

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Pringels L, Pieters D, VAN DEN Berghe S, Witvrouw E, Burssens A, Vanden Bossche L, Wezenbeek E. Loading Speed and Intensity in Eccentric Calf Training Impact Acute Changes in Achilles Tendon Thickness and Stiffness: A Randomized Crossover Trial. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2025 May 1;57(5):895-903. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000003638. Epub 2024 Dec 30.

  PMID: 39787521 DERIVED

Study Officials

• Luc Vanden Bossche

  University Hospital, Ghent

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: The outcome assessor was blinded to the specific intervention (protocol type); due to the nature of the interventions, participants were aware of the exercise intervention they were performing each week. However, participants will not be informed of the hypothesis of the study nor will this be disclosed at any time in written materials or verbal interactions.
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: Repeated measure design

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 23, 2023
• First Posted: September 28, 2023
• Study Start: September 25, 2023
• Primary Completion: January 10, 2024
• Study Completion: January 10, 2024
• Last Updated: June 5, 2024

Record last verified: 2024-06

Locations

BE (1)