Differences Between Long Distance Road Runners and Treadmill Runners in Achilles Tendon Structure

Achilles Tendon Injury Clinical Trial

Official title:

Differences Between Long Distance Road Runners and Treadmill Runners in Achilles Tendon Structure, Muscle Strength, Proprioception and Balance Performance

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Not yet recruiting

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT06294093
• Other study ID #: 026/24
• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Start date: April 1, 2024
• Est. completion date: February 15, 2025

Study information

• Verified date: March 2024
• Source: University of Haifa
• Contact: Gali Dar, Prof
• Phone: +972505662054
• Email: galidar[@]yahoo.com
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Observational

Clinical Trial Summary

this study will investigate the structure of the Achilles tendon and functional tests in road runners compared to treadmill runners.

Description:

Healthy runners (road and treadmill runners) who run regularly at least twice a week for half an hour, over 80% of the training on the treadmill or road, will be recruited for the study. All subjects will fill out a demographic questionnaire for personal details (age, sex, height, weight, past injuries, training). Each participant will undergo functional tests in random order: 1. Examination of the morphology of the Achilles tendon - will be examined by ultrasound tissue characterized (UTC) 2. Balance test - Y Balance Test 3. Proprioception test - AMEDA device 4. Muscle strength test - manual dynamometer for testing gastrocnemius muscle strength. 5. Gastrocnemius muscle endurance test - single leg heel raise test until fatigue. A comparison will be made between the two study groups.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Enrollment: 50
• Est. completion date: February 15, 2025
• Est. primary completion date: February 15, 2025
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: All
• Age group: 18 Years to 50 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• run regularly at least twice a week for half an hour,
• over 80% of the training on a treadmill or road

Exclusion Criteria:

• pain or injury to Achilles tendon during the 6 months, preventing running for at least 3 days.
• past Achilles tendon surgeries,
• sprained ankle in the last six months,
• lower limb and back pain while running
• participants who report running with minimalist shoes.

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Achilles Tendon Injury
• Tendon Injuries

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
n/a

Sponsors (2)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
University of Haifa	Zinman College of Physical Education and Sports Sciences

References & Publications (1)

Dar G, Waddington G, Stern M, Dotan N, Steinberg N. Differences Between Long Distance Road Runners and Trail Runners in Achilles Tendon Structure and Jumping and Balance Performance. PM R. 2020 Aug;12(8):794-804. doi: 10.1002/pmrj.12296. Epub 2020 Jan 18. — View Citation

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	ultrasound tissue characterized	percentage of type 1,2,3,4 fibers within the tendon	baseline
Primary	Balance test	Y Balance Test - composite score: sum of 3 reach directions in centimeters divided by 3 times the limb length then multiplied by 100	baseline
Primary	Proprioception test	AMEDA device - scores between 0 and 1, A higher score represents better proprioception ability.	baseline
Primary	muscle strength test	hand held dynamometer dynamometer assessment of Gastrocnemius muscle	baseline
Primary	endurance test gastrocnemius muscle	number of single leg heel raise test until fatigue	baseline