Combined Effect of Underwater Ultrasound

January 20, 2026 updated by: Ömer Faruk ÖZÇELEP, Kirsehir Ahi Evran Universitesi

Combined Effect of Underwater Ultrasound and Custom-made Foot Orthotics in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Randomised Controlled Trial

This randomised controlled trial aims to investigate the effects of underwater ultrasound therapy and customised foot insoles in RA patients. The study evaluates the effects of the combined use of these two methods on pain, functional status and quality of life. The research aims to contribute to current treatment approaches and to demonstrate the effectiveness of innovative methods to improve the quality of life of RA patients.

Study Overview

Status

Status

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

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

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that can cause pain, swelling, limitation of movement and deformities in the joints (Cabrera-Sánchez et al. 2024)(Cabrera-Sánchez et al. 2024). Foot and ankle involvement is quite common in RA patients and this may adversely affect the daily living activities of patients. In addition to pharmacological approaches, physical therapy methods and the use of biomechanical supports are also important in the treatment of RA.

Ultrasound is a physical therapy method used to reduce pain and inflammation and accelerate tissue healing (Király et al. 2021). Underwater ultrasound applications may be more effective in superficial areas and may reduce the risk of damage to sensitive tissues around the joint. On the other hand, customised foot insoles (orthotics) are frequently used to correct foot deformities, eliminate biomechanical imbalances and reduce pain (Gaino et al. 2021).

This randomised controlled trial aims to examine the effects of underwater ultrasound therapy and customised foot insoles in RA patients. The study evaluates the effects of the combined use of these two methods on pain, functional status and quality of life. The research aims to contribute to current treatment approaches and to demonstrate the effectiveness of innovative methods to improve the quality of life of RA patients.

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 (Actual)

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.
55

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 Locations

  • Turkey (Türkiye)
    • Ahi Evran
      • Kırşehir, Ahi Evran, Turkey (Türkiye), 40100
        • Ahi Evran University

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
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • - ACR/EULAR 2010 diagnostic criteria with foot involvement and having a disease duration of less than two years were enrolled in the study over a period of three months.
  • with foot involvement diagnosed by a rheumatologist.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • - Degenerative diseases and anatomical abnormalities were excluded
  • if they presented in an acute symptomatic flare or they needed to use walking assistance
  • neurological problems, malignant process, cognitive deterioration, pregnancy, previous foot surgery and the presence of a foot wound

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: Double

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.
No Intervention: Control
Experimental: Underwater US+CFO
Other: Underwater US
7 min per session with an intensity of 0.9 W/cm2 for 20 sessions
Device: CFO
Custom made orthotics
Active Comparator: Underwater US
Other: Underwater US
7 min per session with an intensity of 0.9 W/cm2 for 20 sessions

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
DAS-28
Time Frame: 4 weeks
Measures disease activity by evaluating 28 joints for swelling and tenderness.
4 weeks
Manchester-Oxford Foot Questionnaire (MOXFQ)
Time Frame: 2 weeks
2 weeks
Health Assessment Questionnaire [HAQ]
Time Frame: 2 weeks
2 weeks
Berg Balance Test
Time Frame: 4 weeks
Useful for the measurement of the risk of falls and for demonstrating the progress patients in exercise programs oriented to the improve of balance for falls prevention.
4 weeks

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
Ankle Girth Measurement
Time Frame: 4 weeeks
https://orthofixar.com/special-test/ankle-girth-measurement/
4 weeeks
Timed Up and Go Test
Time Frame: 4 weeks
Measures overall mobility and fall risk.
4 weeks
Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction:
Time Frame: 4 weeks
Satisfaction of the custom made insoles
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.
Kirsehir Ahi Evran Universitesi

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.
March 25, 2025

Primary Completion (Actual)

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.
December 25, 2025

Study Completion (Actual)

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.
December 28, 2025

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 19, 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 22, 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 31, 2024

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.
January 22, 2026

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.
January 20, 2026

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.
December 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

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.
  • AEU-FTR2

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

IPD Plan Description

via e-mail perhaps

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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