Progressive Achilles Loading Via Clinician E-support (PACE)

October 1, 2025 updated by: Ruth Chimenti

Progressive Achilles Loading Via Clinician E-support (PACE)

This is a randomized controlled trial with individuals who have Achilles tendon pain. This study is designed to identify an effective rehabilitation program for Achilles tendon pain that expands access to care for military personnel and to predict treatment response. Limited or delayed access to healthcare can exacerbate the severity of pain and duration of disability due to AT. This is particularly relevant for individuals deployed to battlefield settings or are being seen in busy military treatment facilities. Therefore, it is crucial to identify efficient and effective treatment pathways that maximize healthcare access and facilitate a rapid and pain-free return to full duty.

Study Overview

Status

Status

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

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 objectives of this non-inferiority trial are to identify a rehabilitation program focused on education and exercise for AT that expands access to care for military personnel and to identify factors that predict responses to rehabilitation. The following aims will test our central hypothesis that a single-visit, PT-initiated rehabilitation program will be as effective in improving pain and reducing disability as a multi-visit, PT-guided rehabilitation program for AT and that within two weeks of initiating exercise treatment, early changes in patient-reported outcomes can identify responders.

Specific Aim 1. Determine the efficacy of a single-visit, PT-initiated rehabilitation program vs. a multi-visit, PT-guided rehabilitation program for AT.

Specific Aim 2. Identify early prognostic factors for individuals who experience the greatest improvement in pain and disability by four weeks.

Study Design. A single-blind, two-arm, parallel phase 2 randomized controlled trial is the study approach. Individuals with AT will be randomized to one of two rehabilitation programs: 1) self-guided intervention initiated with a single visit with a physical therapist (PT) via telehealth followed by modules that the participant can complete asynchronously, or 2) PT-guided intervention (standard of care) with six one-on-one telehealth visits. Study will enroll 160 individuals with AT across two sites (University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics; Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center, Fort Cavazos) and obtain baseline variables and immediate response at 2-weeks to characterize the sample. Outcomes will be assessed at 4 weeks (primary endpoint), 8 weeks, 26 weeks, and 1 year.

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.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

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.
160

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

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

  • United States
    • Iowa
      • Iowa City, Iowa, United States, 52242
        • Recruiting
        • University of Iowa Health Care - Gait Analysis Laboratory
        • Contact:
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Ruth L Chimenti, PT, PhD
    • Texas
      • Fort Cavazos, Texas, United States, 76544
        • Not yet recruiting
        • Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center (CRDAMC)
        • Contact:
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Matthew Frazier, PT, DPT, MS, ATC

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

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Pain localized to the Achilles tendon (insertion or midportion)
  • AT pain greater than or equal to 3/10 with tendon-loading exercise

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Younger than 18 years of age or older than 60 years of age
  • BMI > 45 kg/m2
  • Pain primarily due to a differential diagnosis, including paratendonitis, bursitis (retrocalcaneal or subcutaneous), posterior ankle impingement or os trigonum, irritation or neuropathy of the sural nerve, plantaris tendon involvement)
  • Presence of a partial Achilles tendon tear or rupture on imaging or a history of Achilles tendon rupture that was verified by surgical or conservative management
  • Attended physical therapy for AT in the past 3 months
  • History of steroid injection to lower extremity tendons/fascia, ESWT or any injection to the Achilles tendon region in the past 3 months
  • History of taking fluoroquinolones in the past 6 months
  • History of surgery or invasive procedure for AT on side enrolling for treatment
  • Diagnosed systemic conditions affecting the foot and ankle (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis), endocrine disorder with complications (e.g., uncontrolled Type I or II diabetes, diabetic peripheral neuropathy), connective tissue disorder (e.g., Marfan's syndrome, Ehlers Danlos), or pregnancy
  • At high risk for falls (four step square test >15 seconds)
  • Refusal of randomization or unable or uninterested in completing virtual visits with a webcam or smart phone or completing quizzes and surveys

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

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
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.
Experimental: Single-visit, Physical Therapist Initiated and Self-Pace Rehabilitation

Participants will complete 6 online modules, which will take 10 to 20 minutes each. The modules can be completed at their own pace over 8 weeks and include:

  1. Exercise participation: Participants will receive instruction on how to progress a home exercise program. Participants will also need to complete a home exercise log.
  2. Education: Participants will be given homework to do at home in between online module sessions. Online quizzes will help review the educational material.
Other: Exercise
All participants will be instructed in a progressive Achilles tendon loading exercise program.
Other: Education
All participants will receive education on Achilles tendinopathy terminology, common symptoms, diagnosis, expected recovery timeline, importance of physical activity, self-management strategies, multiple factors influencing pain, alternative and adjunct treatment options.
Active Comparator: Multi-visit, Physical Therapist Guided Rehabilitation

Participants will attend 6 to 7 telehealth sessions over 8 weeks, which will last 30 to 45 minutes each and include:

  1. Exercise participation: Instruction from a physical therapist will be provided on how to complete a home exercise program between treatment sessions. Participants will also need to complete a home exercise log.
  2. Education: Participants will be given homework and online quizzes to do at home in between treatment sessions. The physical therapist will review the educational material at each visit.
Other: Exercise
All participants will be instructed in a progressive Achilles tendon loading exercise program.
Other: Education
All participants will receive education on Achilles tendinopathy terminology, common symptoms, diagnosis, expected recovery timeline, importance of physical activity, self-management strategies, multiple factors influencing pain, alternative and adjunct treatment options.

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
Tendon Pain
Time Frame: From enrollment to 4 weeks
Participants will report the intensity of movement-evoked pain during single limb heel raises using the Verbal Numeric Rating Scale (NRS, 0 to 10). Where "0" represents "no pain" and "10" indicates "worst pain imaginable."
From enrollment to 4 weeks
Disability
Time Frame: From enrollment through 4 weeks
Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment-Achilles (VISA-A) with score range from 0 to 100. A lower score indicates greater symptom severity.
From enrollment through 4 weeks

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.
Ruth Chimenti

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.
United States Department of Defense
C.R.Darnall Army Medical Center

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.
  • Principal Investigator: Ruth L Chimenti, PT, PhD, University of Iowa
  • Study Director: Matthew Frazier, PT, DPT, MS, ATC, Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center (CRDAMC), Fort Cavazos

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 20, 2025

Primary Completion (Estimated)

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.
June 1, 2028

Study Completion (Estimated)

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.
July 1, 2028

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).
December 12, 2024

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.
December 12, 2024

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.
December 17, 2024

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimated)

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.
October 7, 2025

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.
October 1, 2025

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.
October 1, 2025

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.
  • 202405285
  • HT94252410536 (Other Grant/Funding Number: US Department of Defense, Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP-PRORP))

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

Consistent with the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs Policy on Sharing Data and Research Resources, we will share the primary outcomes data and research resources, such as the rehabilitation handouts and videos. All data that is necessary to validate research outcomes and publications will be preserved and shared to allow other researchers the ability to reproduce the data and obtain additional findings that can advance the results. To ensure that other users can efficiently and accurately use the dataset, we will provide metadata and associated documentation. Information needed to understand the meaning of variable names and information about coding for missing data will be recorded in data dictionaries and readme files that will subsequently be shared alongside final datasets. Protocols, methods, statistical analyses, and any other relevant documentation

IPD Sharing Time Frame

IPD will be available within 1 year of completing the study and remain available for at least 10 years

IPD Sharing Access Criteria

A link to the data will be shared upon publication or within 1 year of completing the study, whichever occurs first. The primary outcome data and resources will be freely available to the public via Iowa Research Online repository. The repository is open access and maintained by the Libraries at the University of Iowa for the preservation and sharing of intellectual work of faculty, students, and staff.

IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type

  • STUDY_PROTOCOL
  • SAP
  • ICF

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

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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