New tailored exercise program may ease stubborn achilles pain
NCT ID NCT07178418
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tests whether a personalized exercise program based on muscle structure works better than a standard eccentric heel-drop program for people with chronic Achilles tendinopathy. Twenty adults with mid-tendon pain for at least 3 months will be randomly assigned to one of two exercise groups. Researchers will use ultrasound, strength tests, and pain questionnaires to compare changes in tendon health and physical function over time.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- exercise program
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could lead to a more personalized exercise approach for Achilles tendinopathy, potentially improving recovery and reducing pain.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very small early-stage trial with only 20 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. Exercise programs require consistent effort, and benefits may vary.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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About 20 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Expected to start
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Oct 2025
An estimate. Start dates often move.
- Expected to finish
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Dec 2026
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 60 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Presence of pain and tenderness in the mid-portion of the Achilles tendon (2-6 cm proximal to the insertion) persisting for at least 3 months * Clinical diagnosis of non-insertional Achilles tendinopathy * Pain aggravated by physical activity * Palpable tenderness localized to the mid-portion of the tendon * Voluntary participation in the study with signed informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Diagnosis of insertional Achilles tendinopathy * History of surgery or fracture in the affected lower limb within the past 12 months * Corticosteroid injection to the Achilles tendon within the past month * Presence of systemic diseases (e.g., diabetes mellitus, rheumatoid arthritis) * Presence of neurological disorders (e.g., peripheral neuropathy, central nervous system disorders) * Prior experience with eccentric exercise protocols targeting the Achilles tendon * Acute onset of symptoms suggestive of a tendon rupture
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
2 sites. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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İstanbul University
Istanbul, Fatih, 34060, Turkey (Türkiye)
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İstanbul University
Istanbul, Fatih, 34060, Turkey (Türkiye)
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