Rehabilitation Programs After Achilles Tendon Rupture

NCT ID: NCT02308618

Last Updated: 2026-02-13

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 48 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2008-03-31
• Study Completion Date: 2014-08-31

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of early mobilization versus traditional immobilization rehabilitation programs after surgical Achilles tendon repair on the mechanical (torque-angle and torque-velocity relationships) and electrical (neuromuscular activation) properties of the plantar- and dorsiflexor muscles, gastrocnemius medialis morphology (muscle architecture), functional performance, and the mechanical and material properties (force-elongation and stress-strain relationships) of the injured and uninjured Achilles tendon.

The hypothesis is that the early mobilization could reduce the deleterious effects of the joint immobilization and improve the tendon healing.

Detailed Description

Participants were allocated into one of two intervention groups (traditional immobilization or early mobilization).

Traditional immobilization group (45 days of plaster cast immobilization; after the immobilization period, subjects received instructions on how to perform a home-based exercise program)

Early mobilization (six weeks of physical therapy program; three times per week; one to two hours of exercises for regaining range of motion and muscular endurance)

Control group (subjects had no history of lower limb injury, and were matched in age and anthropometric measurements to subjects that performed physical rehabilitation and to subjects that remained immobilized.

Conditions

Rupture of Achilles Tendon; Immobility Response, Tonic; Rupture, Spontaneous

Study Design

• Allocation Method: NON_RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT

Study Groups

Traditional Immobilization

45 days of plaster cast immobilization After the immobilization period, subjects received instructions on how to perform a home-based exercise program

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Traditional Immobilization

Intervention Type: OTHER

After surgery subjects were immobilized in a plaster cast, with the ankle positioned in gravitational equinus; weight bearing was not allowed. Two weeks post-operatively, the cast was removed and the patient was immobilized with a new plaster cast, with the ankle in the same position. Four weeks post-operatively, the ankle was plastered in neutral position (i.e. with the sole of the foot perpendicular to the shank), and weight bearing was encouraged. Six weeks post-operatively, the plaster cast was removed

The home exercise program consisted of active exercises and stretches to improve ankle range of motion, and resistance and balance exercises

Early mobilization

Six weeks of physical therapy program

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Early Mobilization

Intervention Type: OTHER

The physical therapy started two weeks after the surgery and lasted six weeks, during which a removable brace was used. Therapy sessions, three times per week in the six-week period, included one to two hours of exercises for regaining range of motion and muscular endurance.

Control

Subjects had no history of lower limb injury, and were matched in age and anthropometric measurements to subjects that performed physical rehabilitation and to subjects that remained immobilized.

Group Type: NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

Traditional Immobilization

After surgery subjects were immobilized in a plaster cast, with the ankle positioned in gravitational equinus; weight bearing was not allowed. Two weeks post-operatively, the cast was removed and the patient was immobilized with a new plaster cast, with the ankle in the same position. Four weeks post-operatively, the ankle was plastered in neutral position (i.e. with the sole of the foot perpendicular to the shank), and weight bearing was encouraged. Six weeks post-operatively, the plaster cast was removed

The home exercise program consisted of active exercises and stretches to improve ankle range of motion, and resistance and balance exercises

Intervention Type: OTHER

Early Mobilization

The physical therapy started two weeks after the surgery and lasted six weeks, during which a removable brace was used. Therapy sessions, three times per week in the six-week period, included one to two hours of exercises for regaining range of motion and muscular endurance.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Other Intervention Names

Plaster cast immobilization; Accelerated rehabilitation

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Male
• Achilles tendon rupture

Exclusion Criteria

• arterial insufficiency
• diabetes
• autoimmune disease
• patients who used systemic antibiotics or steroids or showed any other clinical contraindication to perform maximum voluntary contractions on a dynamometer.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 30 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 60 Years
• Eligible Sex: MALE
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior.

OTHER_GOV

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico

OTHER_GOV

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Marco Aurélio Vaz, PhD

PhD

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Marco A Vaz, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul

Locations

Exercise Research Laboratory, School of Physical Education, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul

Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Countries

Brazil

Other Identifiers

UFRGS - 2007882

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id