Identification and Treatment of Early Tendinopathy in Elite Athletes

August 30, 2018 updated by: Christian Couppé, Bispebjerg Hospital
Tendon injuries represent a significant problem in elite athletes. The understanding of the pathophysiology of tendinopathy is very sparse, and especially the early events in tendinopathy are unknown. In this study, the investigators will investigate early changes in tendon tissue overloading and development of tendinopathy. The investigators will examine elite athletes with recently developed tendinopathy with regards to symptoms (pain, function), tendon morphology (ultrasonography, MRI), inflammation (the activity of inflammatory pathways) and vascularization (Doppler US). The investigators hypothesize a coupling between early symptoms and inflammatory activity, followed by structural changes. The investigation will indicate what symptoms and what tendon related measurements are primary for disease development ("tendinopathy blueprints") and should be regarding vital in the prevention of tendinopathy.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Unknown

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

The investigators intend to study the development of tendinopathy in elite athletes (badminton and handball players) that enter a phase of relative overloading of their tendons. This will be done in a large cohort of elite athletes from whom the investigators have obtained essential data and tests. A percentage of these elite athletes will develop overuse symptoms, and in those, the investigators will perform investigations that will try to identify the initial pathological changes in tendinopathy.

Participants are included as soon as possible after diagnosis of either Achilles or patellar tendinopathy because the investigators wish to investigate the early changes in tendinopathy. The hypothesis is, that at the early development of tendinopathy there will be a mismatch between matrix protein anabolic and catabolic pathways, and will be associated with a secondary upregulation of inflammatory and apoptotic markers in the tendon and result in hypervascularization and hypermetabolism.

Recruiting participants will be done in collaboration with TEAM DANMARK (the Danish sport elite sports organization) together with The Danish Badminton, Handball and Volleyball Associations). Furthermore, the investigators will establish contact with all relevant coaches and medical teams of these associations mentioned above. Information leaflets will repeatedly be sent about the project. Elite athletes can contact the chief physician of TEAM DANMARK directly through email or telephone. In comparison, a control group of healthy athletes is already recruited in the former project of recreational athletes.

Recruitment to the project will focus onset of exercise pain, and every participant will be examined by the chief physician of TEAM DANMARK if the participant has tendinopathy or not. Once included the participant will undergo following procedures as soon as possible after diagnosis is given:

  • A questionnaire regarding training history and ongoing symptoms
  • Ultrasound scanning of patellar or Achilles tendons (bilateral)
  • Blood samples
  • MRI of the tendon that can identify any diseased area.

Participants with tendinopathy will be physically reevaluated after 3, 6 and 12 months with regards to symptoms, the activity of daily life, blood samples, questionnaires VISA-A/P and ultrasound measurements. Furthermore, the unaffected side will also be used as a comparison. Moreover, participants will receive initial guidance about load reduction by the Chief Physician.

It is expected that the results of this study will provide insight into the events leading up to a developing tendinopathy. This study will add important information to understand the pathophysiology and provide information on the timing of the phases as well. Information and results from the study will give insight into better treatment options that are more specific and earlier intervention in elite athletes. Furthermore, this study will investigate and address the question of why some elite athletes develop tendinopathies, and others do not when the training volume is equally raised.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Observational

Enrollment (Anticipated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
70

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • Denmark
    • Bispebjerg Hospital , København NV
      • Copenhagen NV, Bispebjerg Hospital , København NV, Denmark, 2400

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 40 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Sampling Method

Probability Sample

Study Population

Elite athletes 18 years and older

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Marked tendon related pain in association with exercise on one leg
  • Soreness during physical examination of patellar or/and Achilles tendon upon palpation
  • Demonstrate an ultrasonographic (US) thickening of the tendon on the affected side vs the contralateral un-symptomatic side in the anterior-posterior projection

Exclusion Criteria:

  • • Surgery in Achilles and/or patellar tendon

    • History of Achilles and/or patellar tendinopathy
    • Received any form of an injection in Achilles and/or patella tendon
    • Lately, have an infection around Achilles and/or patella tendon

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Group / Cohort

A group or subgroup of participants in an observational study that is assessed for biomedical or health outcomes.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Tendinopathy
Athletes with unilateral tendinopathy
Other: Identification and treatment of early tendinopathy
Participants receive initial guidance about load reduction when tendinopathy

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Ultrasonography - Greyscale
Time Frame: 3 months
Greyscale ultrasound for measuring tendon thickness (mm)
3 months
Ultrasonography - Power doppler
Time Frame: 3 months
To measure tendon vascularisation, area with power doppler signal (cm^2)
3 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Measure CRP levels in blood samples 3 months follow-up
Time Frame: 3 months
Systemic inflammation Whole blood, serum, plasma and tissue.
3 months
Measure CRP levels in blood samples 12 months follow-up
Time Frame: 12 months
Systemic inflammation Whole blood, serum, plasma and tissue.
12 months
Tendon structural changes on MRI 3 months follow-up
Time Frame: 3 months
Measure tendon structural changes on MRI
3 months
Tendon structural changes on MRI 12 months follow-up
Time Frame: 12 months
Measure tendon structural changes on MRI
12 months
Ultrasonography - Greyscale
Time Frame: 12 months
Greyscale ultrasound for measuring tendon thickness (mm)
12 months
Ultrasonography -Power doppler
Time Frame: 12 month
To measure tendon vascularisation, area with power doppler signal (cm^2)
12 month
Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment
Time Frame: 3 months
Standardised score of functional capability, in patient with achilles and patellar tendinopathy. Total score will be reported; scale (0-100). 100=full functional capacity 0=poor functional capacity.
3 months
Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment
Time Frame: 12 months
Standardised score of functional capability, in patient with achilles and patellar tendinopathy. Total score will be reported; scale (0-100). 100=full functional capacity 0=poor functional capacity.
12 months
Questionnaires - Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) - Pain
Time Frame: 3 months

Questions on pain, both during activity and during rest.

Pain during activity, (NRS); Scale (0-10)

Pain after activity, (NRS); Scale (0-10)

Pain at rest, (NRS); Scale (0-10)

Pain I the morning, (NRS); Scale (0-10)

Maximal pain during the past week, (NRS); Scale (0-10)
3 months
Questionnaires - Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) - Pain
Time Frame: 12 months

Questions on pain, both during activity and during rest.

Pain during activity, (NRS); Scale (0-10)

Pain after activity, (NRS); Scale (0-10)

Pain at rest, (NRS); Scale (0-10)

Pain I the morning, (NRS); Scale (0-10)

Maximal pain during the past week, (NRS); Scale (0-10)
12 months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Bispebjerg Hospital

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
Team Denmark

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Study Director: Christian Couppé, PhD, Unversity of Copenhagen

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
August 17, 2018

Primary Completion (Anticipated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
August 17, 2020

Study Completion (Anticipated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
August 17, 2021

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
August 16, 2018

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
August 19, 2018

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
August 22, 2018

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
September 4, 2018

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
August 30, 2018

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
August 1, 2018

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • CC_1

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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