Achilles Tendinopathy (AT)NCT07123246
"Effects of Rigid Tape in Patients With Chronic Achilles Tendinopathy"
A study testing Rigid Tape in people with Achilles Tendinopathy (AT), run by University of Gran Rosario.
Trial summary
The aim of this study will be to determine the clinical effects of rigid tape in patients with chronic MAT. The secondary outcomes will be to evaluate the immediate and short term pain, the height and pain during the vertical jump, the satisfaction of the use of the tape and the global rating of change (GROC) of the… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 50 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Achilles Tendinopathy (AT)
- What is being tested?
- Rigid Tape
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 36 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- Dec 2025to Dec 2028
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
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
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Clinical diagnosis of unilateral or bilateral MAT
- Achilles pain > 3 months
- Age ranging between 18 to 50 years, both genders
- Read and speak Spanish well enough to provide informed consent and follow study instructions.
- Pain during running and jumping.
Who cannot join
- Any ankle or foot surgery
- History of Achilles rupture
- Heel pain in the last 3 months
- Systemic disorders/diseases
- Body mass index > 30kg/m2
- Self-report of pregnancy
- Pain < 2/100 of average pain on VAS
- VISA A score > 90 points
Trial locations and contacts
No sites are listed yet. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
About this study
The aim of this study will be to determine the clinical effects of rigid tape in patients with chronic MAT. The secondary outcomes will be to evaluate the immediate and short term pain, the height and pain during the vertical jump, the satisfaction of the use of the tape and the global rating of change (GROC) of the intervention. This study will be a double-blinded randomized clinical trial comprising a total sample size of 36 participants with MAT of both genders and aged between 18 and 50 years. Subjects will undergo a screening process by a sports medicine doctor by different diagnostic tests to identify those presenting a diagnosis of painful MAT and then, they will be randomized into either a group performing experimental rigid tape (G1), or a group performing placebo tape (G2). The study will assess the subjects immediate and short-term tendon pain following the tape application during running and vertical jump. Also the tape satisfaction and GROC will be assessed. The rigid tape will be applied in the central portion of the Achilles tendon. Primary and secondary outcomes will be measured at baseline, immediate after the application of the tape and 72 hours after. The GROC will only be assessed at the end of the treatment. All the evaluations will be performed by a blinded physiotherapist. The patient will also be blinded.
- Conditions
- Achilles Tendinopathy (AT)
- Being tested
- Rigid Tape, Placebo Control
- Keywords
- AT
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Rigid TapeOther
Inelastic rigid tape (Strappal) applied to discharge the Achilles tendon
Placebo ControlOther
A pre-tape and a short piece of rigid tape applied without tension.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Rigid Tape group | Experimental | All participants in this arm will use a rigid tape during 72 hours. The rigid tape will consist of applying a pre-tape (Hypafix) to the patient´s skin, followed by an inelastic tape (Strappal) over it. The purpose of applying a pre-tape is to protect the skin from injury and to promote adherence of the rigid tape. The Strappal tape will be applied in a circular motion over the Achilles tendon, above the point of maximum pain felt by the patient, with compression to generate a biomechanical effect. The outcomes will be assessed before, immediately after and at 72 hours. Receives: Other: Rigid Tape |
| Placebo Tape group | Placebo comparator | The placebo tape will consist of applying a circular bandage to the mid-portion of the Achilles tendon. However, the pre-tape and a short piece of strappal will be applied without tension during its application, to avoid generating a biomechanical compression effect. The variables to be studied will be assessed before, immediately after, and 72 hours later. Receives: Other: Placebo Control |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change on pain intensity
The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) will be used to assess pain intensity during running and jumping. This scale consists of a sequence of numbers from 0 (no pain) to 100 mm (most severe pain).
Measured: At baseline, immediately and 72 hours after the intervention
Secondary outcomes (3)
Change on single leg vertical jump
This test will assess the height in cm and power of a vertical jump using the My Jump app, validated by Gallardo-Fuentes in 2016. The instructions will be jumping as high as possible with hands on the subject's waist. Participants will perform 3 repetitions in a non-consecutive manner.
Measured: At baseline, immediately and 72 hours after the intervention
Change on feeling of comfort of the tape
The satisfaction of the tape will be assessed by the Likert Scale. This rating scale measures the positive or negative response to the intervention. The format of this scale will be divided into five levels: "very uncomfortable", "uncomfortable", "normal", "comfortable", and "very comfortable".
Measured: Immediately and 72 hours after the intervention
Change in perception of improvement of the treatment
The Global Rating of Change (GROC) scale is a patient-reported outcome measure used to assess the subjective perception of change in a patient's condition following an intervention. It helps determine whether a patient's condition has improved, worsened, or remained the same since the start of treatment. The magnitude of this difference is recorded on an 11-point visual analog scale, starting from "0" (no change) as the midpoint, and presenting at its extremes "-5" (much worse) and "+5" (completely better).
Measured: 72 hours after the intervention
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted14 Aug 2025
- Study startDec 2025 (estimated)
- Primary completionDec 2027 (estimated)
- Study completionDec 2028 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (3)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Achilles Tendinopathy (AT)Studies 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
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- clinical trial with experimental and placebo groups
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 36 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Gran Rosario
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Gonzalo Elias, University of Gran Rosario
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07123246
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- Rigid Tape and Achilles Tendon
- Status last verified
- Aug 2025
- First submitted
- 7 Aug 2025
- Last updated
- 19 Aug 2025
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes
Publications
Silbernagel KG, Hanlon S, Sprague A. Current Clinical Concepts: Conservative Management of Achilles Tendinopathy. J Athl Train. 2020 May;55(5):438-447. doi: 10.4085/1062-6050-356-19. Epub 2020 Apr 8.
PubMed 32267723de Vries A, Zwerver J, Diercks R, Tak I, van Berkel S, van Cingel R, van der Worp H, van den Akker-Scheek I. Effect of patellar strap and sports tape on pain in patellar tendinopathy: A randomized controlled trial. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2016 Oct;26(10):1217-24. doi: 10.1111/sms.12556. Epub 2015 Sep 17.
PubMed 26376953Dar G, Mei-Dan E. Immediate effect of infrapatellar strap on pain and jump height in patellar tendinopathy among young athletes. Prosthet Orthot Int. 2019 Feb;43(1):21-27. doi: 10.1177/0309364618791619. Epub 2018 Aug 13.
PubMed 30101673
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 19 Aug 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- "Effects of Rigid Tape in Patients With Chronic Achilles Tendinopathy"
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07123246
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- Rigid Tape and Achilles Tendon
- Conditions
- Achilles Tendinopathy (AT)
- Keywords
- AT
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 36 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University of Gran RosarioUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- Dec 2025 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- Dec 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Dec 2028 (estimated)
- First posted
- 14 Aug 2025 (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.
The aim of this study will be to determine the clinical effects of rigid tape in patients with chronic MAT. The secondary outcomes will be to evaluate the immediate and short term pain, the height and pain during the vertical jump, the satisfaction of the use of the tape and the global rating of change (GROC) of the intervention. This study will be a double-blinded randomized clinical trial comprising a total sample size of 36 participants with MAT of both genders and aged between 18 and 50 years. Subjects will undergo a screening process by a sports medicine doctor by different diagnostic tests to identify those presenting a diagnosis of painful MAT and then, they will be randomized into either a group performing experimental rigid tape (G1), or a group performing placebo tape (G2). The study will assess the subjects immediate and short-term tendon pain following the tape application during running and vertical jump. Also the tape satisfaction and GROC will be assessed. The rigid tape will be applied in the central portion of the Achilles tendon. Primary and secondary outcomes will be measured at baseline, immediate after the application of the tape and 72 hours after. The GROC will only be assessed at the end of the treatment. All the evaluations will be performed by a blinded physiotherapist. The patient will also be blinded.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind (participant, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- clinical trial with experimental and placebo groups
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Rigid Tape group | Experimental | Other: Rigid TapeAll participants in this arm will use a rigid tape during 72 hours. The rigid tape will consist of applying a pre-tape (Hypafix) to the patient´s skin, followed by an inelastic tape (Strappal) over it. The purpose of applying a pre-tape is to protect the skin from injury and to promote adherence of the rigid tape. The Strappal tape will be applied in a circular motion over the Achilles tendon, above the point of maximum pain felt by the patient, with compression to generate a biomechanical effect. The outcomes will be assessed before, immediately after and at 72 hours. |
| Placebo Tape group | Placebo comparator | Other: Placebo ControlThe placebo tape will consist of applying a circular bandage to the mid-portion of the Achilles tendon. However, the pre-tape and a short piece of strappal will be applied without tension during its application, to avoid generating a biomechanical compression effect. The variables to be studied will be assessed before, immediately after, and 72 hours later. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 50 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Clinical diagnosis of unilateral or bilateral MAT
- Achilles pain > 3 months
- Age ranging between 18 to 50 years, both genders
- Read and speak Spanish well enough to provide informed consent and follow study instructions.
- Pain during running and jumping.
Key exclusion criteria (8 listed)
- Any ankle or foot surgery
- History of Achilles rupture
- Heel pain in the last 3 months
- Systemic disorders/diseases
- Body mass index > 30kg/m2
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Rigid TapeInelastic rigid tape (Strappal) applied to discharge the Achilles tendon | Other | Rigid Tape group |
| Placebo ControlA pre-tape and a short piece of rigid tape applied without tension. | Other | Placebo Tape group |
Primary outcome
Change on pain intensity
Time frame: At baseline, immediately and 72 hours after the intervention
The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) will be used to assess pain intensity during running and jumping. This scale consists of a sequence of numbers from 0 (no pain) to 100 mm (most severe pain).
3 secondary outcomes
Change on single leg vertical jump
Time frame: At baseline, immediately and 72 hours after the intervention
Change on feeling of comfort of the tape
Time frame: Immediately and 72 hours after the intervention
Change in perception of improvement of the treatment
Time frame: 72 hours after the intervention
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 19 Aug 2025.
- Background: PubMed 32267723Silbernagel KG, Hanlon S, Sprague A. Current Clinical Concepts: Conservative Management of Achilles Tendinopathy. J Athl Train. 2020 May;55(5):438-447. doi: 10.4085/1062-6050-356-19. Epub 2020 Apr 8.
- Background: PubMed 26376953de Vries A, Zwerver J, Diercks R, Tak I, van Berkel S, van Cingel R, van der Worp H, van den Akker-Scheek I. Effect of patellar strap and sports tape on pain in patellar tendinopathy: A randomized controlled trial. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2016 Oct;26(10):1217-24. doi: 10.1111/sms.12556. Epub 2015 Sep 17.
- Background: PubMed 30101673Dar G, Mei-Dan E. Immediate effect of infrapatellar strap on pain and jump height in patellar tendinopathy among young athletes. Prosthet Orthot Int. 2019 Feb;43(1):21-27. doi: 10.1177/0309364618791619. Epub 2018 Aug 13.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes
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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.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Rigid Tape in people with Achilles Tendinopathy (AT), run by University of Gran Rosario.
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 5 inclusion and 8 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: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 19 Aug 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. 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?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Gonzalo Elías, PT Msc (+54 9 0341-156051190, gelias@ugr.edu.ar), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change on pain intensity (time frame: At baseline, immediately and 72 hours after the intervention). 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 NCT07123246, which also lists 3 linked publications.
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 19 Aug 2025.