Efficacy of customised foot orthoses in the treatment of Achilles tendinopathy: study protocol for a randomised trial

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Achilles tendinopathy is a common condition that can cause marked pain and disability. Numerous non-surgical treatments have been proposed for the treatment of this condition, but many of these treatments have a poor or non-existent...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Menz Hylton B, Landorf Karl B, Munteanu Shannon E, Cook Jill L, Pizzari Tania, Scott Lisa A
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2009-10-01
Series:Journal of Foot and Ankle Research
Online Access:http://www.jfootankleres.com/content/2/1/27
_version_ 1797329486929199104
author Menz Hylton B
Landorf Karl B
Munteanu Shannon E
Cook Jill L
Pizzari Tania
Scott Lisa A
author_facet Menz Hylton B
Landorf Karl B
Munteanu Shannon E
Cook Jill L
Pizzari Tania
Scott Lisa A
author_sort Menz Hylton B
collection DOAJ
description <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Achilles tendinopathy is a common condition that can cause marked pain and disability. Numerous non-surgical treatments have been proposed for the treatment of this condition, but many of these treatments have a poor or non-existent evidence base. The exception to this is eccentric calf muscle exercises, which have become a standard non-surgical intervention for Achilles tendinopathy. Foot orthoses have also been advocated as a treatment for Achilles tendinopathy, but the long-term efficacy of foot orthoses for this condition is unknown. This manuscript describes the design of a randomised trial to evaluate the efficacy of customised foot orthoses to reduce pain and improve function in people with Achilles tendinopathy.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>One hundred and forty community-dwelling men and women aged 18 to 55 years with Achilles tendinopathy (who satisfy inclusion and exclusion criteria) will be recruited. Participants will be randomised, using a computer-generated random number sequence, to either a control group (sham foot orthoses made from compressible ethylene vinyl acetate foam) or an experimental group (customised foot orthoses made from semi-rigid polypropylene). Both groups will be prescribed a calf muscle eccentric exercise program, however, the primary difference between the groups will be that the experimental group receive customised foot orthoses, while the control group receive sham foot orthoses. The participants will be instructed to perform eccentric exercises 2 times per day, 7 days per week, for 12 weeks. The primary outcome measure will be the total score of the Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment - Achilles (VISA-A) questionnaire. The secondary outcome measures will be participant perception of treatment effect, comfort of the foot orthoses, use of co-interventions, frequency and severity of adverse events, level of physical activity and health-related quality of life (assessed using the Short-Form-36 questionnaire - Version two). Data will be collected at baseline, then at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months. Data will be analysed using the intention to treat principle.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>This study is the first randomised trial to evaluate the long-term efficacy of customised foot orthoses for the treatment of Achilles tendinopathy. The study has been pragmatically designed to ensure that the study findings are generalisable to clinical practice.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry Number: ACTRN12609000829213.</p>
first_indexed 2024-03-08T07:06:18Z
format Article
id doaj.art-022120a939e34d93852a40997990ec89
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1757-1146
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-08T07:06:18Z
publishDate 2009-10-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series Journal of Foot and Ankle Research
spelling doaj.art-022120a939e34d93852a40997990ec892024-02-03T04:33:05ZengBMCJournal of Foot and Ankle Research1757-11462009-10-01212710.1186/1757-1146-2-27Efficacy of customised foot orthoses in the treatment of Achilles tendinopathy: study protocol for a randomised trialMenz Hylton BLandorf Karl BMunteanu Shannon ECook Jill LPizzari TaniaScott Lisa A<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Achilles tendinopathy is a common condition that can cause marked pain and disability. Numerous non-surgical treatments have been proposed for the treatment of this condition, but many of these treatments have a poor or non-existent evidence base. The exception to this is eccentric calf muscle exercises, which have become a standard non-surgical intervention for Achilles tendinopathy. Foot orthoses have also been advocated as a treatment for Achilles tendinopathy, but the long-term efficacy of foot orthoses for this condition is unknown. This manuscript describes the design of a randomised trial to evaluate the efficacy of customised foot orthoses to reduce pain and improve function in people with Achilles tendinopathy.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>One hundred and forty community-dwelling men and women aged 18 to 55 years with Achilles tendinopathy (who satisfy inclusion and exclusion criteria) will be recruited. Participants will be randomised, using a computer-generated random number sequence, to either a control group (sham foot orthoses made from compressible ethylene vinyl acetate foam) or an experimental group (customised foot orthoses made from semi-rigid polypropylene). Both groups will be prescribed a calf muscle eccentric exercise program, however, the primary difference between the groups will be that the experimental group receive customised foot orthoses, while the control group receive sham foot orthoses. The participants will be instructed to perform eccentric exercises 2 times per day, 7 days per week, for 12 weeks. The primary outcome measure will be the total score of the Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment - Achilles (VISA-A) questionnaire. The secondary outcome measures will be participant perception of treatment effect, comfort of the foot orthoses, use of co-interventions, frequency and severity of adverse events, level of physical activity and health-related quality of life (assessed using the Short-Form-36 questionnaire - Version two). Data will be collected at baseline, then at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months. Data will be analysed using the intention to treat principle.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>This study is the first randomised trial to evaluate the long-term efficacy of customised foot orthoses for the treatment of Achilles tendinopathy. The study has been pragmatically designed to ensure that the study findings are generalisable to clinical practice.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry Number: ACTRN12609000829213.</p>http://www.jfootankleres.com/content/2/1/27
spellingShingle Menz Hylton B
Landorf Karl B
Munteanu Shannon E
Cook Jill L
Pizzari Tania
Scott Lisa A
Efficacy of customised foot orthoses in the treatment of Achilles tendinopathy: study protocol for a randomised trial
Journal of Foot and Ankle Research
title Efficacy of customised foot orthoses in the treatment of Achilles tendinopathy: study protocol for a randomised trial
title_full Efficacy of customised foot orthoses in the treatment of Achilles tendinopathy: study protocol for a randomised trial
title_fullStr Efficacy of customised foot orthoses in the treatment of Achilles tendinopathy: study protocol for a randomised trial
title_full_unstemmed Efficacy of customised foot orthoses in the treatment of Achilles tendinopathy: study protocol for a randomised trial
title_short Efficacy of customised foot orthoses in the treatment of Achilles tendinopathy: study protocol for a randomised trial
title_sort efficacy of customised foot orthoses in the treatment of achilles tendinopathy study protocol for a randomised trial
url http://www.jfootankleres.com/content/2/1/27
work_keys_str_mv AT menzhyltonb efficacyofcustomisedfootorthosesinthetreatmentofachillestendinopathystudyprotocolforarandomisedtrial
AT landorfkarlb efficacyofcustomisedfootorthosesinthetreatmentofachillestendinopathystudyprotocolforarandomisedtrial
AT munteanushannone efficacyofcustomisedfootorthosesinthetreatmentofachillestendinopathystudyprotocolforarandomisedtrial
AT cookjilll efficacyofcustomisedfootorthosesinthetreatmentofachillestendinopathystudyprotocolforarandomisedtrial
AT pizzaritania efficacyofcustomisedfootorthosesinthetreatmentofachillestendinopathystudyprotocolforarandomisedtrial
AT scottlisaa efficacyofcustomisedfootorthosesinthetreatmentofachillestendinopathystudyprotocolforarandomisedtrial