Clinical Effectiveness of PEMF as a Treatment Adjunct to Eccentric Exercise for Achilles Tendinopathy

Launched by CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG · Apr 6, 2022

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

Randomization and blinding Participants will be randomized into 1:1 allocation, blocked randomization with 27 participants in the PEMF group and 27 participants in the sham group. Each allocation will be assigned with a unique RFID (generated during block randomization by the PEMF supplier service) recognizable by the PEMF machine. The participants will be assigned an RFID by which the PEMF or sham treatment will be randomly assigned to the RFID. A biostatistician who does not participate in the recruitment of patients will oversee the randomization. Hence, both participants and the researc...

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Age between 18 and 70
• • Tenderness with palpation 2-6 cm above the Achilles tendon insertion on the calcaneus (midportion Achilles tendinopathy)
• • Recurrent complaints in 1 or both Achilles' tendons at rest and/or during exercise for the preceding 3 month
• • Structural changes of the tendon were confirmed via sonographic examination during the initial physical exam
• • Achilles tendinopathy affecting the insertional and mid-portion of the Achilles tendon
• • Clinical symptoms associated with Achilles tendinopathy that do not respond well to conventional conservative treatments before entering the study
• • Informed consent
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • History of surgery on the affected lower limb in the past year
• • Mental/physical limitation rendering participant to follow instructions
• • With medical or musculoskeletal problems that could affect the ability to complete assessments (i.e. with walking aids or wheel-chaired)
• • Severe cognitive impairments and neurological disorders that will affect data collection by questionnaires
• • Fractures of the trained body parts within the past 12 months