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The ASPIRE Trial: AchilleS tendinoPathy Treated With cortIcosteRoid injEctions (ASPIRE)

16 juni 2026 bijgewerkt door: Adam Weir, Erasmus Medical Center
Achilles tendinopathy is a common and often persistent tendon disorder associated with pain, impaired function, and reduced participation in physical activities. Standard care consists of education, load management advice, and progressive calf-strengthening exercises, yet about half of patients remain symptomatic. Corticosteroid injections are frequently used in clinical practice, but evidence on long-term efficacy and safety remains inconclusive. The ASPIRE trial is a multicentre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase III trial evaluating whether 1-3 ultrasound-guided peritendinous corticosteroid injections added to standard care are safe and more effective than placebo injections plus standard care in adults with chronic midportion Achilles tendinopathy. The primary outcomes are change in VISA-A score over 1 year and incidence of full-thickness Achilles tendon rupture during 1-year follow-up.

Studie Overzicht

Toestand

Werving

Conditie

Interventie / Behandeling

Gedetailleerde beschrijving

The ASPIRE trial is designed to address uncertainty regarding peritendinous corticosteroid injections as a second-line treatment for chronic midportion Achilles tendinopathy. Participants are adults aged 18-65 years with clinically diagnosed and ultrasonographically confirmed chronic midportion Achilles tendinopathy, persistent symptoms for at least 6 months, and ongoing complaints despite standard care including at least 3 months of exercise therapy. Participants are randomized 1:1 to receive either 1-3 ultrasound-guided peritendinous injections of methylprednisolone acetate 40 mg plus lidocaine, or 1-3 ultrasound-guided placebo injections with lidocaine only. All participants receive the same standard care consisting of education, load management advice, and a structured progressive calf-muscle strengthening exercise programme supported by an online website. Follow-up includes clinical assessments, questionnaires, ultrasound imaging, and functional testing at baseline, 3 months, and 1 year, with additional online questionnaires up to 10 years.

Studietype

Ingrijpend

Inschrijving (Geschat)

276

Fase

  • Fase 3

Contacten en locaties

In dit gedeelte vindt u de contactgegevens van degenen die het onderzoek uitvoeren en informatie over waar dit onderzoek wordt uitgevoerd.

Studiecontact

Studie Locaties

Deelname Criteria

Onderzoekers zoeken naar mensen die aan een bepaalde beschrijving voldoen, de zogenaamde geschiktheidscriteria. Enkele voorbeelden van deze criteria zijn iemands algemene gezondheidstoestand of eerdere behandelingen.

Geschiktheidscriteria

Leeftijden die in aanmerking komen voor studie

  • Volwassen
  • Oudere volwassene

Accepteert gezonde vrijwilligers

Nee

Beschrijving

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age 18-65 years
  • Clinically diagnosed midportion Achilles tendinopathy confirmed by ultrasound
  • Symptoms for at least 6 months
  • Persistent complaints despite standard care, including education, load management advice and at least 3 months of exercise therapy / exercise programme

Exclusion Criteria:

  • • Clinical suspicion of insertional Achilles tendinopathy

    • Clinical suspicion of Achilles tendon rupture
    • Clinical suspicion of plantar flexor tenosynovitis
    • Clinical suspicion of sural nerve pathology
    • Clinical suspicion of peroneal tendon subluxation or peroneal tendinopathy
    • Clinical suspicion of posterior ankle impingement syndrome
    • Suspected systemic/inflammatory disorder as cause of symptoms
    • Any condition preventing participation in active exercise programme
    • History of Achilles tendon rupture of index tendon
    • Previous local corticosteroid injection on index Achilles tendon
    • Previous surgery on index Achilles tendon
    • Refusal to undergo one of the study treatments
    • Local skin infection, suspected systemic infection with fever, or other medical condition compromising injection safety
    • Vitamin K antagonist use with INR >3.0 within 3 days before injection or unknown INR
    • Current pregnancy or breastfeeding
    • Medication-induced tendon pathology (quinolones or statins related to symptom onset)
    • Inability to provide informed consent
    • Participation in another concomitant interventional programme for Achilles tendinopathy
    • Known hypersensitivity or allergy to Depo-Medrol or Lidocaine
    • Participants with unstable or poorly controlled diabetes mellitus may be excluded at investigator discretion for safety reasons.

Studie plan

Dit gedeelte bevat details van het studieplan, inclusief hoe de studie is opgezet en wat de studie meet.

Hoe is de studie opgezet?

Ontwerpdetails

  • Primair doel: Behandeling
  • Toewijzing: Gerandomiseerd
  • Interventioneel model: Parallelle opdracht
  • Masker: Verviervoudigen

Wapens en interventies

Deelnemersgroep / Arm
Interventie / Behandeling
Experimenteel: Corticosteroid and Lidocaine Injection
Participants receive 1-3 ultrasound-guided peritendinous injections of Depo-Medrol (methylprednisolone acetate 40 mg) combined with lidocaine. All participants receive one injection at baseline; up to two additional injections may be given within the first 8 weeks at intervals of 4 weeks if predefined criteria are met.
Ander: Standard care
Education, load management advice, and a structured progressive calf-muscle strengthening exercise programme supported by an online website.
Geneesmiddel: Depo-Medrol (methylprednisolone acetate 40 mg) combined with lidocaine
Participants receive 1-3 ultrasound-guided peritendinous injections of Depo-Medrol (methylprednisolone acetate 40 mg) combined with lidocaine.
Andere namen:
  • Drug: Methylprednisolone acetate 40 mg + Lidocaine 10 mg
  • Depo-Medrol + Lidocaine
Placebo-vergelijker: Placebo Injection
Participants receive 1-3 ultrasound-guided peritendinous placebo injections consisting of lidocaine only. All participants receive one injection at baseline; up to two additional injections may be given within the first 8 weeks at intervals of at least 4 weeks if predefined criteria are met.
Ander: Standard care
Education, load management advice, and a structured progressive calf-muscle strengthening exercise programme supported by an online website.
Geneesmiddel: placebo injections consisting of lidocaine only
Participants receive 1-3 ultrasound-guided peritendinous placebo injections consisting of lidocaine onl
Andere namen:
  • Placebo-injectie
  • Drug: Lidocaine 10 mg

Wat meet het onderzoek?

Primaire uitkomstmaten

Uitkomstmaat
Maatregel Beschrijving
Tijdsspanne
Change in disability and symptoms measured with the VISA-A questionnaire.
Tijdsspanne: Baseline to 1 year follow-up (timepoints: Baseline, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 1-year).
Change in disability and symptoms during 1-year follow-up, measured with the validated Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment-Achilles (VISA-A) questionnaire, scored from 0 to 100.
Baseline to 1 year follow-up (timepoints: Baseline, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 1-year).
Incidence of full-thickness Achilles tendon rupture
Tijdsspanne: During 1-year follow-up
Incidence of full-thickness Achilles tendon ruptures during 1-year follow-up, confirmed by medical records or clinical tests and imaging.
During 1-year follow-up

Secundaire uitkomstmaten

Uitkomstmaat
Maatregel Beschrijving
Tijdsspanne
Minor corticosteroid side effects / corticosteroid safety indicators
Tijdsspanne: baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 1 year.
Body mass (kg)
baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 1 year.
Tendon-related symptoms and disability
Tijdsspanne: baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 1 year
TENDINopathy Severity Assessment - Achilles (TENDINS-A) score. 0-100; 0= worts, 100= best
baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 1 year
Pain outcomes
Tijdsspanne: Assessed at baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 1 year
Pain during activity, measured on a VAS 0-10 scale
Assessed at baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 1 year
Global perceived improvement
Tijdsspanne: Assessed at 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 1 year
Global Rating of Change (GROC), 11-point scale
Assessed at 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 1 year
Physical function / functional test outcomes
Tijdsspanne: Assessed at baseline, 3 months, and 1 year
Maximum VAS pain (0-10) during or after palpation of the Achilles tendon
Assessed at baseline, 3 months, and 1 year
Healthcare use
Tijdsspanne: Assessed at baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 1 year

Medical Consumption Questionnaire (iMCQ) for healthcare use

The economic evaluation will be published separately.
Assessed at baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 1 year
Imaging outcomes: tendon structure
Tijdsspanne: Assessed at baseline, 3 months, and 1 year
Ultrasound and ultrasound tissue characterisation of Achilles tendon where the degree of collagen disorganisation is assed using: echo types I, echo types II, echo types III, echo types IV, combined percentage echo types I + II
Assessed at baseline, 3 months, and 1 year
Imaging outcomes: neovascularisation / Doppler flow
Tijdsspanne: Assessed at baseline, 3 months, and 1 year
percentage of Doppler flow within the color box, quantified with the Surface Area Quantification (SAQ) method
Assessed at baseline, 3 months, and 1 year
Minor corticosteroid side effects / corticosteroid safety indicators
Tijdsspanne: baseline, 3 months, and 1 year.
Body fat percentage
baseline, 3 months, and 1 year.
Minor corticosteroid side effects / corticosteroid safety indicators
Tijdsspanne: baseline, 3 months, and 1 year
Waist circumference (cm)
baseline, 3 months, and 1 year
Minor corticosteroid side effects / corticosteroid safety indicators
Tijdsspanne: baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 1 year.
Hot flushes (5-point scale)
baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 1 year.
Minor corticosteroid side effects / corticosteroid safety indicators
Tijdsspanne: baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 1 year
Menstrual disturbances (if applicable, 5-point scale)
baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 1 year
Minor corticosteroid side effects / corticosteroid safety indicators
Tijdsspanne: baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 1 year.
Sleep disturbances (5-point scale)
baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 1 year.
Minor corticosteroid side effects / corticosteroid safety indicators
Tijdsspanne: baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 1 year.
Appetite (5-point scale)
baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 1 year.
Physical function / functional test outcomes
Tijdsspanne: Assessed at baseline, 3 months, and 1 year
Maximum VAS pain (0-10) during or after 5 single-leg heel rises
Assessed at baseline, 3 months, and 1 year
Physical function / functional test outcomes
Tijdsspanne: Assessed at baseline, 3 months, and 1 year
Maximum VAS pain (0-10) during or after 5 hops
Assessed at baseline, 3 months, and 1 year
Physical function / functional test outcomes
Tijdsspanne: Assessed at baseline, 3 months, and 1 year
Heel Rise Endurance Test (HRET) - repetitions
Assessed at baseline, 3 months, and 1 year
productivity loss
Tijdsspanne: Assessed at baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 1 year
Institute for Medical Technology Assessment Productivity Cost Questionnaire (iPCQ for productivity loss). The economic evaluation will be published separately
Assessed at baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 1 year
Imaging outcomes: tendon structure on ultrasound
Tijdsspanne: Assessed at baseline, 3 months, and 1 year
tendon volume (cubic centimeters)
Assessed at baseline, 3 months, and 1 year
Imaging outcomes: tendon structure on ultrasound
Tijdsspanne: Assessed at baseline, 3 months, and 1 year
maximum cross-sectional area (square cm)
Assessed at baseline, 3 months, and 1 year
Imaging outcomes: tendon structure on ultrasound
Tijdsspanne: Assessed at baseline, 3 months, and 1 year
tendon maximum diameter (cm)
Assessed at baseline, 3 months, and 1 year
Pain outcomes
Tijdsspanne: Assessed at baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 1 year
Pain after activity, measured on a VAS 0-10 scale
Assessed at baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 1 year
Health-related quality of life
Tijdsspanne: Assessed at baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 1 year
Euro Quality of life 5 Dimensions, 5 Levels questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L). 0-100 score. 0=worst, 100=best
Assessed at baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 1 year
Return to sport / physical activity level
Tijdsspanne: Assessed at baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 1 year.
Return to desired sports participation using a 7-point scale. 0= worst, 7 full return to sports = best
Assessed at baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 1 year.
Minor corticosteroid side effects
Tijdsspanne: baseline, 3 months, and 1 year.
Visible skin abnormalities at the injection site scored as present or absent
baseline, 3 months, and 1 year.

Medewerkers en onderzoekers

Hier vindt u mensen en organisaties die betrokken zijn bij dit onderzoek.

Sponsor

Erasmus Medical Center

Medewerkers

UMC Utrecht
ZonMw: The Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development
Isala
Gelderse Vallei Hospital
Bergman Clinics
Haaglanden Medical Centre
Amsterdam UMC
Dutch Association of Sports Medicine (VSG)
Dutch Orthopaedic Association (NOV)
Dutch College of General Practitioners (NHG Musculoskeletal Care)
International Trial Advisory Board
Patient Panel

Onderzoekers

  • Hoofdonderzoeker: Robert Jan de Vos, MD, PhD, Erasmus Medical Centre

Publicaties en nuttige links

De persoon die verantwoordelijk is voor het invoeren van informatie over het onderzoek stelt deze publicaties vrijwillig ter beschikking. Dit kan gaan over alles wat met het onderzoek te maken heeft.

Nuttige links

Studie record data

Deze datums volgen de voortgang van het onderzoeksdossier en de samenvatting van de ingediende resultaten bij ClinicalTrials.gov. Studieverslagen en gerapporteerde resultaten worden beoordeeld door de National Library of Medicine (NLM) om er zeker van te zijn dat ze voldoen aan specifieke kwaliteitscontrolenormen voordat ze op de openbare website worden geplaatst.

Bestudeer belangrijke data

Studie start (Werkelijk)

3 juni 2026

Primaire voltooiing (Geschat)

31 december 2027

Studie voltooiing (Geschat)

31 oktober 2028

Studieregistratiedata

Eerst ingediend

2 juni 2026

Eerst ingediend dat voldeed aan de QC-criteria

10 juni 2026

Eerst geplaatst (Werkelijk)

16 juni 2026

Updates van studierecords

Laatste update geplaatst (Werkelijk)

18 juni 2026

Laatste update ingediend die voldeed aan QC-criteria

16 juni 2026

Laatst geverifieerd

1 juni 2026

Meer informatie

Termen gerelateerd aan deze studie

Trefwoorden

Aanvullende relevante MeSH-voorwaarden

Andere studie-ID-nummers

  • MEC-2026-0210
  • 2025-524057-13-00 (Ctis)
  • ZonMw grant number: 1014102241 (Andere identificatie: ZonMw)

Plan Individuele Deelnemersgegevens (IPD)

Bent u van plan om gegevens van individuele deelnemers (IPD) te delen?

JA

Beschrijving IPD-plan

upon reasonable request.

IPD-tijdsbestek voor delen

as yet undetermined

IPD-toegangscriteria voor delen

as yet undetermined

IPD delen Ondersteunend informatietype

  • LEERPROTOCOOL
  • SAP
  • ICF

Informatie over medicijnen en apparaten, studiedocumenten

Bestudeert een door de Amerikaanse FDA gereguleerd geneesmiddel

Nee

Bestudeert een door de Amerikaanse FDA gereguleerd apparaatproduct

Nee

Deze informatie is zonder wijzigingen rechtstreeks van de website clinicaltrials.gov gehaald. Als u verzoeken heeft om uw onderzoeksgegevens te wijzigen, te verwijderen of bij te werken, neem dan contact op met register@clinicaltrials.gov. Zodra er een wijziging wordt doorgevoerd op clinicaltrials.gov, wordt deze ook automatisch bijgewerkt op onze website .

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