ClinicalTrials.gg
TerminatedNCT01902433Updated Jan 24, 2017

Astym® Compared Eccentric Exercise for Chronic Mid-substance Achilles Tendinopathy

An interventional study of Astym in Achilles Tendon Pain, sponsored by Emily Slaven, PT, PhD. Terminated at 2 sites in United States. Open to participants aged 20 Years to 60 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2017-01-24.

Sponsored by Emily Slaven, PT, PhD · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

Why this study was terminated
We were unable to recruit participants to the study
Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
50
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
20 Years to 60 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The purpose of this study is to compare the changes in pain and self-perceived function between two different treatments for Achilles tendinopathy: the Astym® protocol (a form of soft tissue mobilization using instruments) and a specific exercise protocol that involves strengthening the calf and Achilles tendon. Astym® (A-stim) is not an acronym, but rather stands for "A Stimulation" of the body's healing response, describing the physiologic process which occurs with Astym treatment. Astym is the trademark name of a non-invasive treatment where instruments are applied topically to locate unhealthy soft tissue, and to transfer mild to moderate pressure to the underlying soft tissue structures. The aim of Astym treatment is to eliminate scar tissue and stimulate tissue regeneration. Both the principal investigator and co-investigator have been trained and certified in administering the Astym treatment. The specific exercise protocol will involve exercises that strengthen the Achilles and calf through eccentric exercise. Eccentric exercise is a form of exercise where the benefit comes from applying a controlled lengthening stress to the muscle and tendon.

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Conditions studied

  • Achilles Tendon Pain
03

In context

Lead sponsor

Emily Slaven, PT, PhD is the lead sponsor of 2 studies on the registry; none are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
20 Years to 60 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  • Pain for 3 months or longer in the mid portion of only one Achilles tendon.
  • Must read, speak and understand English

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria

  • Previous surgery to the Achilles tendon that is currently painful
  • An injection into the Achilles tendon in the previous 4 weeks
  • Have symptoms in both Achilles tendons concurrently
  • Have taken fluoroquinolone antibiotics in the past 6 months
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Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Single (Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
50 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Astym

    A form of soft tissue mobilization using instruments

    Procedure: Astym

  • Active comparator
    Eccentric Exercise

    Eccentric exercise is a form of exercise where the benefit comes from applying a controlled lengthening stress to the muscle and tendon.

    Procedure: Astym

Interventions

  • ProcedureAstym
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What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. VISA-A

    Time frame: 1 year

Secondary outcomes

  1. Numeric Pain Rating Scale

    Time frame: 1 year

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Study locations

2 sites
  • IU Health
    Indianapolis, Indiana 46254, United States
  • Utah Physical Therapy
    Lehi, Utah 84043, United States
08

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: Undecided — Only two participants were recruited to the study at the closure of the study

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

09

Timeline

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
Not marked actual or estimatedDates not marked actual or estimated

The record gives a start of Aug 2013, a primary completion of Jan 2017 and a completion of Jan 2017. It does not say whether these dates are actual or estimated.

How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.

Registered
Jul 15, 2013
First posted
Jul 18, 2013
Start
Aug 2013
Primary completionActual
Jan 2017
CompletionActual
Jan 2017
Last update
Jan 24, 2017
What these dates mean
Start.
When the first participant enrolled; while estimated, when the study expects to open to recruitment.
Primary completion.
When the last participant was examined or treated to collect data for the study's main question, its primary outcome. A study that stopped early gives the date its data collection stopped.
Completion.
When the last participant's last visit took place, for every outcome, secondary ones and side effects included: the end of the study. Often later than primary completion, sometimes the same day.
Actual and Est.
Actual means the registry says the date has happened. Est. (estimated) is a date the sponsor plans or expects. It can still move, and the sponsor is expected to change it to actual once it has passed.
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Jan 24, 2017, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT01902433
Lead sponsor
Emily Slaven, PT, PhD
Collaborators
Performance Dynamics
Responsible party
Emily Slaven, PT, PhD (Assistant Professor, University of Indianapolis) — Sponsor-investigator
First posted
Jul 18, 2013
Start date
Aug 2013
Primary completion
Jan 2017
Completion
Jan 2017
Last update
Jan 24, 2017

Study contacts

Emily J Slaven, PhD
principal investigator · University of Indianapolis

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is terminated, as verified in Jan 2017. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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