Brigham and Women's Hospital
The goal of this prospective randomized controlled trial is to compare the effectiveness of a home-based exercise protocol to formal physical therapy in patients who have been diagnosed with Achilles tendinopathy. The null hypothesis is that there will be no difference in the treatment outcomes between patients with Achilles tendinopathy who participate in a home-based program versus patients with Achilles tendinopathy who undergo formal physical therapy. Participants will be randomized to a 12-week home-based or formal physical therapy protocol and asked to complete brief outcomes surveys at their initial visit, and at 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months, and 1 year after their initial visit.
Inclusion Criteria: * Must be 18 years of age * Must have a new diagnosis of Achilles tendinopathy that has presented with pain, thickening and tenderness at the mid substance of the Achilles tendon * Symptoms present for at least 6 weeks Exclusion Criteria: * Patients with insertional Achilles pain or tenderness or concomitant plantar foot pain * Patients who have had prior treatment with home eccentric stretching or physical therapy * Patients who have prior diagnosis and treatment for Achilles tendinopathy * Patients with history of injection (corticosteroid or sclerosing agents) to the…
The home-based eccentric exercise protocol is a do-as-tolerated variation on the protocol described by Alfredson et al. in 1998. The protocol includes doing a series of heel raises, twice daily. No equipment is necessary. Patients will be given handouts and video links that depict and describe the exercises and their prescribed frequency.
Patients will be given a prescription for physical therapy consisting of 1-2 sessions per week for 6 weeks, with a renewal for another 6 weeks to be executed at the physical therapists' discretion. If an in-person visit is necessary for the renewal, or is requested by the physical therapist, the patient will be seen again in the office. Each patient will be given a release form to provide to his or her physical therapist. The release form will request a written record of all the treatment methods used by the physical therapist. Physical therapists who participate in the care of patients in this study will treat each patient using any and all methods that their professional experience deems clinically necessary.
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