Could a placenta injection heal stubborn achilles pain?
NCT ID NCT06172218
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tested a special injection made from donated placenta tissue in 20 people with long-lasting Achilles tendon pain that didn't get better with standard treatments like physical therapy. The goal was to see if the injection could reduce pain and improve function. Results will help design a larger study.
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
-
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
-
20 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
-
Nov 2023
- Finished
-
Jan 2026
- Lead sponsor
-
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
-
18 to 64 years
- Sex
-
Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
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: 1. Age 18 to 64 years old 2. BMI ≤ 40 kg/m2 3. Subject has been diagnosed with unilateral Achilles tendinopathy (based on investigator assessment using ultrasound) of at least 3 months duration 4. History of having attempted a physical therapy for Achilles tendinopathy which must have included at least 6 weeks of eccentric exercise, alone or in addition to other non-surgical therapies 5. VISA-A score for the target tendon ≥40 and ≤60 at screening 6. Subject is willing to comply with all study procedures 7. Willing to sign a written informed consent to participate 8. Able to follow study instructions, with the intention of completing all required visits Exclusion Criteria: 1. Planned surgical procedure below knee of the targeted extremity during study period 2. Patient has previously received an injection for this injury within the past 2 months 3. Major lower limb amputation of the contralateral leg 4. A medical condition, or a personal situation, which in the principal investigator's opinion, is not appropriate for participation in the trial 5. Osteoarthritis, chronic low back pain, fibromyalgia or any other condition that may affect the responses on the VISA-A 6. HIV infection, Hepatitis B or C infection, tuberculosis, COVID-19, cellulitis or any other active infection 7. Cognitive impairment, mental illness, neuroses, or untreated depression that would preclude understanding or reliably completing the patient reported outcome measures 8. Peritendinopathy, paratenonitis, partial tear or tendon rupture of the affected tendon 9. Subject has hindfoot deformities on the targeted extremity 10. Plantar fasciitis, calcaneal bursitis, Sever's disease, retrocalcaneal exostosis (Mulholland deformity, Haglund's deformity), enthesophytes, myofascial pain referral, posterior ankle impingement, os trigonum syndrome, tenosynovitis or dislocation of the peroneal or other plantar flexor tendons, an accessory soleus muscle, irritation or neuroma of the sural nerve, or systemic inflammatory disease 11. Leg length discrepancy, hyperpronation, varus deformity of the forefoot, pes cavus or limited mobility of the subtalar joint 12. Prior surgical intervention to the affected tendon 13. Current use of vitamins or herbal supplements 14. Current use of opioids, midazolam, gabapentin, pregabalin or ketamine 15. Compensable disability or work injury, ongoing litigation, or ongoing chiropractic care 16. Current use of systemic immunosuppressive medications, chemotherapy, or history of organ transplant (kidney, heart, lung) 17. Pregnancy and women who are expecting to be pregnant 18. Current enrollment in another interventional drug or device study or participation in such a study within 30 days of anticipated entry into this study
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for Achilles tendinopathy are added.
Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
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.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
North Park Podiatry
San Diego, California, 92104, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Can collagen shots around the heel tendon speed recovery?
- Tendon pain showdown: which injection works better?
- Keyhole surgery may beat open cuts for achilles repair
- Pilates put to the test for achilles pain relief
- Exercise study for sore achilles tendons pulled before it began
- New tool may predict who will suffer after achilles surgery