Use of Ultrasonography for Measuring Achilles Tendon Thickness: a Novel Measurement Method

March 4, 2025 updated by: Necip Gökhan Güner, Sakarya University

Background: Achilles tendon thickness has been associated with various diseases. Among imaging modalities, ultrasonography stands out because of its advantages in assessing Achilles tendon thickness. Previous studies typically recommend performing Achilles tendon ultrasonography with the patient in a prone position on an examination table. However, because it is not always possible or safe for each patient to assume the prone position, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between measurements obtained in the supine position and those obtained using the standard method.

Methods: A total of 180 healthy volunteers aged ≥18 years (70 female and 110 male; 360 Achilles tendons), with no history of disease or medication use, were included in the study. Achilles tendon measurements (thickness, width, and cross-sectional area) were obtained via ultrasonography in four different positions, including the standard method. The alternative methods included the supine position with the leg extended (Method 2), the supine position with the ankle resting on the opposite knee (Method 3), and the supine position with the leg held in the air at 90 degrees of hip and knee flexion (Method 4). Measurements were taken 2 cm distal from the Achilles tendon insertion on the calcaneus.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Actual)

180

Contacts and Locations

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

Study Locations

  • Turkey
    • Adapazarı
      • Sakarya, Adapazarı, Turkey, 54100
        • Sakarya Training and Research Hospital

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

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The sample size for this study was calculated to include at least 180 volunteers, based on a moderate effect size, an error margin of 0.05, a power of 80%, and a correlation analysis approach.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Healthy volunteers aged >18 years who agreed to participate in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Individuals with tenosynovitis, tendinitis, bursitis, tuberculous arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, a history of Achilles tendon surgery, or tendon injuries.

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
Intervention / Treatment
Use of Ultrasonography for Measuring Achilles Tendon Thickness
Diagnostic test: Use of Ultrasonography for Measuring Achilles Tendon Thickness
Achilles tendon ultrasonography was performed on healthy volunteers included in the study by an emergency physician trained in both basic and advanced ultrasonography techniques. Measurements were conducted using a Butterfly iQ (Butterfly Network, Inc., Guilford, CT) ultrasound device in B-mode with a musculoskeletal preset, using biplane imaging. For Achilles tendon measurement, the image depth was set to 2.0 cm. A linear probe was placed longitudinally and perpendicular to the tendon. The distal portion of the Achilles tendon and the calcaneus were visualized in the long axis, whereas the short axis was used to center the Achilles tendon on the screen for an optimal measurement view. The measurement site was determined as 2 cm proximal to the Achilles tendon insertion at the calcaneus. In biplane imaging, Achilles tendon thickness was measured in the long axis, whereas thickness, width, and cross-sectional area were measured in the short axis. Measurements were performed bilaterally

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
A novel ultrasonographic technique for achilles tendon thickness measurement
Time Frame: Baseline
The primary outcome of this study was to provide a practical method for Achilles tendon measurement in emergency departments by addressing the disadvantages of the prone measurement technique proposed in previous studies.
Baseline

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Sakarya University

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

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)

September 19, 2024

Primary Completion (Actual)

October 19, 2024

Study Completion (Actual)

October 20, 2024

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

February 27, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 4, 2025

First Posted (Actual)

March 25, 2025

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

March 25, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 4, 2025

Last Verified

March 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 43012747-050.04-399468-15

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

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.

Clinical Trials on Emergency Medicine

Clinical Trials on Use of Ultrasonography for Measuring Achilles Tendon Thickness

Search Similar Trials

Sponsors and Collaborators

Medical Conditions

Drug Interventions

CROs by country

CROs in Sweden

Conditions

Rare Diseases

Drug Interventions

Dietary Supplements

Sponsor/Collaborators

Locations

Subscribe