Mechanisms Behind Development of Tendinopathy (TESINaC)

Mechanisms Behind Development of Tendinopathy: Early Structural, Inflammatory, Nociceptive and Clinical Changes in Recreational Runners

There has been an increasing amount of musculoskeletal injuries the past decades and overused tendons represents a major problem both for leisure and occupational activities. A full understanding of the pathophysiology of tendinopathy is very sparse and especially the early events in tendinopathy remains unexplained. In this phd study the investigators will investigate early changes in tendon tissue overloading and development of tendinopathy. The investigators will investigate sports-active individuals with recently developed tendinopathy with regards to symptoms (pain, function), tendon morphology (ultrasonography, MRI and electron microscopy), tendon mechanical properties (ultrasonography strain), tissue molecular biology (expression and content of matrix proteins), inflammation (activity of inflammatory pathways) and vascularization (Doppler and contrast enhancement US). The investigators hypothesize a coupling between early symptoms and inflammatory activity, followed by structural changes and altered mechanical properties. The investigation will indicate what symptoms and what tendon related determined measurements are primary for disease development ("tendinopathy blue prints") and should be regarding vital in prevention of tendinopathy.

Study Overview

• Status: Unknown
• Conditions: Tendinopathy
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Training

Detailed Description

The investigators intend to study the development of tendinopathy in humans that enter a phase of relative overloading of their tendons. This will be done in a large cohort of individuals from whom the investigators have obtained basic data and tests. A percentage of these participants will develop overuse symptoms and in those the investigators will perform investigations that will identify the initial pathological changes in tendinopathy

Participants are included as soon as possible after diagnosis of either Achilles or patella 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 hyper-metabolism.

Recruiting participants will be done in collaboration with local athletic clubs in the Copenhagen area. The athletic clubs include Sparta, Københavns Idræt Forening (KIF), Frederiksberg Idræt Forening (FIF). Furthermore, the investigators will establish contact through online social media such as Facebook, Twitter and Google. In addition, Information leaflets will be handed out, and medical staff at the emergency rooms repeatedly informed about the project. Healthy participants can be directly recruited by participants already in the project, social medias and through information leaflets handed out. It is planned to inform staff at the emergency rooms at Bispebjerg Hospital, Amager Hospital, Gentofte Hospital, Herlev Hospital and Hvidovre Hospital. Patients and healthy controls can contact the primary investigator directly through email or telephone.

Recruitment to project TESINaC will focus onset of exercise pain and every participant will be evaluated by a doctor if the participant have tendinopathy or not. Once included the participant will undergo following procedures as soon as possible after diagnosis is given:

• Questionnaire regarding training history and ongoing symptoms
• Ultrasound scanning of tendons
• Ultrasound isometric
• Blood samples
• MRI of tendons on both legs MRI precedes biopsy as it can identify any diseased area within the tendon from which a biopsy can be taken. Only participants with tendinopathy will have to undergo biopsy from both patella tendons once during the project. Healthy participants will not undergo biopsy. No biopsy will be taken from the Achilles tendon as this procedure may worsen the participants symptoms.

Participants with tendinopaty will get physical reevaluated after 3, 6 and 12 months as regards to symptoms, activity of daily life, blood samples, questionnaires VISA-A/P and ultrasound measurements. Rehabilitation training of patients is expected to start as soon as possible after the biopsy have been taken.

Healthy participants will not be reevaluated nor will they undergo rehabilitation training.

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

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 400

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Peter Tran, Doctor; Phone Number: +45 27428164; Email: Tesinac2016@gmail.com

Study Locations

• Denmark
  • Kbh NV
    • Copenhagen, Kbh NV, Denmark, 2400
      • Recruiting
      • Bispebjerg Hospital
      • Contact: Peter Tran, Doctor; Phone Number: 0045 35316086; Email: tesinac2016@gmail.com
      • Contact: Nikolaj Malmgaard-Clausen, Doctor; Email: nikolajmoelkjaer@gmail.com

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Physical active participants over 18 years old, both men and women. The term physical active refers to any kind of sport and not only running. Participants with pain in either Achilles or patellar tendon on one leg. Healthy participants must be symptom free and not have any diseases at all.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Marked tendon related pain in association with exercise on one leg
• Soreness during physical examination of patella or/and Achilles tendon upon palpation
• Demonstrate an ultrasonographic (US) thickening of the tendon (2 mm larger on the affected side vs the contralateral un-symptomatic side in the anterior-posterior projection)

Exclusion Criteria:

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

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Tendinopathy; Long slow strength training for 3 months that are performed at home or gym. Participants receive initial guidance to the exercises from a physiotherapist assigned to Bispebjerg H.	Other: Training; Long slow strength training of the tendon for 3 months to improve function; Other Names: Long slow strength training
Healthy; No intervention. No training

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Investigate the timespan of inflammation from acute phase to resolution in tendinopathy	Markers for inflammation includes tendon thickness, vascularization, inflammatory mRNA leves, inflammatory protein signals and mechanical properties of tendon.	3 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Measure tendon thickness in mm (anterior-posterior) on ultrasound		3 months
Measure TNF-alpha mRNA levels in patella biopsies as ratio to GAPDH	GAPDH is a household gene and therefore expected to have constant mRNA levels. TNF-alpha mRNA is measured relative to GAPDH.	3 months
Measure the tendon region with maximal vascularization on ultrasound doppler signal based on visual impression from the investigators	The region with maximal vascularization is based on where the ultrasound doppler signal is most abundant, which depends on visual impression from the investigators.	3 months
IHC stain for TNF-alpha protein signal in patella biopsies with specific antibodies	Quantification is made by visual inspection of stained tendon samples	3 month
Measure tendon mechanical properties with ultrasound isometric	Tracking software provide details about deformation of tendon in mm, young modulus, max % strain and stiffness.	3 months
Measure CRP levels in blood samples	Systemic inflammation	3 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Bispebjerg Hospital
• Collaborators: University of Copenhagen
• Investigators: Study Director: Michael Kjær, Professor, Clinical Medicine

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: June 1, 2016
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): June 1, 2019
• Study Completion (Anticipated): June 1, 2020

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 2, 2016
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 13, 2016
• First Posted (Estimate): June 14, 2016

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): January 19, 2018
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 18, 2018
• Last Verified: January 1, 2018

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Inflammation; Edema; Clinical; Achilles tendon; Structural; Patella tendon
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Wounds and Injuries; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Muscular Diseases; Tendon Injuries; Tendinopathy
• Other Study ID Numbers: BBH-128

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO