Achilles Tendon InjuryNCT06294093
Differences Between Long Distance Road Runners and Treadmill Runners in Achilles Tendon Structure
An observational study of Achilles Tendon Injury, run by University of Haifa at 1 site in Israel.
Trial summary
this study will investigate the structure of the Achilles tendon and functional tests in road runners compared to treadmill runners. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 50 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Achilles Tendon Injury
- How many people
- 48 participants
- Where
- 1 siteIsrael
- Study dates
- 10 Jun 2024to 15 Aug 2025
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 50 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Study population: healthy runners who run on a regular basis, without injuries or pain during the last 6 months
Who may be able to join
- run regularly at least twice a week for half an hour,
- over 80% of the training on a treadmill or road
Who cannot join
- 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.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Differences Between Long Distance Road Runners and Treadmill Runners in Achilles Tendon Structure, Muscle Strength, Proprioception and Balance Performance
this study will investigate the structure of the Achilles tendon and functional tests in road runners compared to treadmill runners.
Read the detailed 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.
- Conditions
- Achilles Tendon Injury
- Keywords
- Achilles tendon, running
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| treadmill group | healthy subjects who run regularly at least twice a week for half an hour, over 80% of the training on treadmill. | |
| road group | healthy subjects who run regularly at least twice a week for half an hour, over 80% of the training on road. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
ultrasound tissue characterized
percentage of type 1,2,3,4 fibers within the tendon
Measured: baseline
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
Measured: baseline
Proprioception test
AMEDA device - scores between 0 and 1, A higher score represents better proprioception ability.
Measured: baseline
muscle strength test
hand held dynamometer dynamometer assessment of Gastrocnemius muscle
Measured: baseline
endurance test gastrocnemius muscle
number of single leg heel raise test until fatigue
Measured: baseline
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted5 Mar 2024
- Study start10 Jun 2024
- Primary completion15 Aug 2025
- Study completion15 Aug 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Achilles Tendon InjuryStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Cross-sectional
- Enrolment
- 48 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Haifa
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Zinman College of Physical Education and Sports Sciences
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Gali Dar, University of Haifa
- Investigators
- Gali Dar, Prof., Principal investigator, University of Haifa
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06294093
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 026/24
- Status last verified
- Jan 2026
- First submitted
- 27 Feb 2024
- Last updated
- 26 Jan 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Publications
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.
PubMed 31762215
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 26 Jan 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Differences Between Long Distance Road Runners and Treadmill Runners in Achilles Tendon Structure, Muscle Strength, Proprioception and Balance Performance
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06294093
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 026/24
- Conditions
- Achilles Tendon Injury
- Keywords
- Achilles tendon, running
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 48 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of HaifaUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Zinman College of Physical Education and Sports Sciences
- Study start
- 10 Jun 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 15 Aug 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 15 Aug 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 5 Mar 2024 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
this study will investigate the structure of the Achilles tendon and functional tests in road runners compared to treadmill runners.
Detailed 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.
Study design
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Cross-sectional
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| treadmill group | – | –healthy subjects who run regularly at least twice a week for half an hour, over 80% of the training on treadmill. |
| road group | – | –healthy subjects who run regularly at least twice a week for half an hour, over 80% of the training on road. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 50 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
- Study population
- healthy runners who run on a regular basis, without injuries or pain during the last 6 months
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- run regularly at least twice a week for half an hour,
- over 80% of the training on a treadmill or road
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- 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.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Primary outcome
ultrasound tissue characterized
Time frame: baseline
percentage of type 1,2,3,4 fibers within the tendon
Balance test
Time frame: baseline
Y Balance Test - composite score: sum of 3 reach directions in centimeters divided by 3 times the limb length then multiplied by 100
Proprioception test
Time frame: baseline
AMEDA device - scores between 0 and 1, A higher score represents better proprioception ability.
muscle strength test
Time frame: baseline
hand held dynamometer dynamometer assessment of Gastrocnemius muscle
endurance test gastrocnemius muscle
Time frame: baseline
number of single leg heel raise test until fatigue
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 26 Jan 2026.
- Results publication: PubMed 31762215Dar 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.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Gali Dar, Prof. principal investigator
University of Haifa
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Achilles Tendon Injury, run by University of Haifa at 1 site in Israel.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 26 Jan 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Israel. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
ultrasound tissue characterized (time frame: baseline). The study lists 5 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT06294093, which also lists 1 linked publication.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 26 Jan 2026.