"Effects of Rigid Tape in Patients With Chronic Achilles Tendinopathy"

NCT07123246 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: Rigid Tape and Achilles Tendon
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 36
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

The aim of this study will be to determine the clinical effects of rigid tape in patients with chronic MAT. The secondary outcomes will be to evaluate the immediate and short term pain, the height and pain during the vertical jump, the satisfaction of the use of the tape and the global rating of change (GROC) of the intervention. This study will be a double-blinded randomized clinical trial comprising a total sample size of 36 participants with MAT of both genders and aged between 18 and 50 years. Subjects will undergo a screening process by a sports medicine doctor by different diagnostic tests to identify those presenting a diagnosis of painful MAT and then, they will be randomized into either a group performing experimental rigid tape (G1), or a group performing placebo tape (G2). The study will assess the subjects immediate and short-term tendon pain following the tape application during running and vertical jump. Also the tape satisfaction and GROC will be assessed. The rigid tape will be applied in the central portion of the Achilles tendon. Primary and secondary outcomes will be measured at baseline, immediate after the application of the tape and 72 hours after. The GROC will only be assessed at the end of the treatment. All the evaluations will be performed by a blinded physiotherapist. The patient will also be blinded.

Conditions

Achilles Tendinopathy (AT)

Keywords

AT

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change on pain intensity

  The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) will be used to assess pain intensity during running and jumping. This scale consists of a sequence of numbers from 0 (no pain) to 100 mm (most severe pain).

  At baseline, immediately and 72 hours after the intervention

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Change on single leg vertical jump

  At baseline, immediately and 72 hours after the intervention

• Change on feeling of comfort of the tape

  Immediately and 72 hours after the intervention

• Change in perception of improvement of the treatment

  72 hours after the intervention

Study Arms (2)

Rigid Tape group

EXPERIMENTAL

All participants in this arm will use a rigid tape during 72 hours. The rigid tape will consist of applying a pre-tape (Hypafix) to the patient´s skin, followed by an inelastic tape (Strappal) over it. The purpose of applying a pre-tape is to protect the skin from injury and to promote adherence of the rigid tape. The Strappal tape will be applied in a circular motion over the Achilles tendon, above the point of maximum pain felt by the patient, with compression to generate a biomechanical effect. The outcomes will be assessed before, immediately after and at 72 hours.

Other: Rigid Tape

Placebo Tape group

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

The placebo tape will consist of applying a circular bandage to the mid-portion of the Achilles tendon. However, the pre-tape and a short piece of strappal will be applied without tension during its application, to avoid generating a biomechanical compression effect. The variables to be studied will be assessed before, immediately after, and 72 hours later.

Other: Placebo Control

Interventions

Rigid Tape OTHER

Inelastic rigid tape (Strappal) applied to discharge the Achilles tendon

Rigid Tape group

Placebo Control OTHER

A pre-tape and a short piece of rigid tape applied without tension.

Placebo Tape group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 50 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Clinical diagnosis of unilateral or bilateral MAT
• Achilles pain \> 3 months
• Age ranging between 18 to 50 years, both genders
• Read and speak Spanish well enough to provide informed consent and follow study instructions.
• Pain during running and jumping.

You may not qualify if:

• Any ankle or foot surgery
• History of Achilles rupture
• Heel pain in the last 3 months
• Systemic disorders/diseases
• Body mass index \> 30kg/m2
• Self-report of pregnancy
• Pain \< 2/100 of average pain on VAS
• VISA A score \> 90 points

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Gran Rosario: lead

Related Publications (3)

• Silbernagel KG, Hanlon S, Sprague A. Current Clinical Concepts: Conservative Management of Achilles Tendinopathy. J Athl Train. 2020 May;55(5):438-447. doi: 10.4085/1062-6050-356-19. Epub 2020 Apr 8.

  PMID: 32267723 BACKGROUND

• de Vries A, Zwerver J, Diercks R, Tak I, van Berkel S, van Cingel R, van der Worp H, van den Akker-Scheek I. Effect of patellar strap and sports tape on pain in patellar tendinopathy: A randomized controlled trial. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2016 Oct;26(10):1217-24. doi: 10.1111/sms.12556. Epub 2015 Sep 17.

  PMID: 26376953 BACKGROUND

• Dar G, Mei-Dan E. Immediate effect of infrapatellar strap on pain and jump height in patellar tendinopathy among young athletes. Prosthet Orthot Int. 2019 Feb;43(1):21-27. doi: 10.1177/0309364618791619. Epub 2018 Aug 13.

  PMID: 30101673 BACKGROUND

Central Study Contacts

Gonzalo Elías, PT Msc

CONTACT

+54 9 0341-156051190; gelias@ugr.edu.ar

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Model Details: clinical trial with experimental and placebo groups

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 7, 2025
• First Posted: August 14, 2025
• Study Start: December 1, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2028
• Last Updated: August 19, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-08

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share