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Plantar FascitisNCT03873961

Effect of HILT vs LLLT in Treatment of Patients With Achilles Tendinitis or Plantar Fasciitis

A study testing High-intensity laser therapy and Low-level Laser therapy in people with Plantar Fascitis and Achilles Tendon Pain, run by Lithuanian University of Health Sciences at 1 site in Lithuania.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

The aim of this study is to evaluate and compare the changes of heel pain, functional health and well-being after high-intensity and low-level laser therapy for plantar fasciitis or Achilles tendinopathy Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 85 years
Conditions the study is for
Plantar Fascitis, Achilles Tendon Pain
What is being tested?
High-intensity laser therapy and Low-level Laser therapy
Type of treatment
Medical device
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
155 participants
Where
1 siteLithuania
Study dates
3 Jan 2017to 30 Apr 2019
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 85 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • unilateral painful activity related symptoms from the Achilles region
  • tenderness during palpation of Achilles insertion on calcaneus or couple centimeters above
  • unilateral plantar heel pain, mainly during the first few steps upon rising in the morning
  • tenderness at the insertion site of the plantar fascia o the calcaneus

Who cannot join

  • bilateral heel pain
  • other acute pathology (febrile fever, cold. etc.) that require treatment
  • other painful conditions that require painkillers (tooth pain, back pain, etc)
  • pregnancy
  • history of recent trauma or foot surgery
  • wounds, infections in treatment area
Show all 12Show fewer
  • impaired sensation in treatment area
  • pigmentation changes on the skin in treatment area (tattoo, birthmarks)
  • received oral or injected corticosteroids within the last 26 weeks
  • diagnosis of systemic inflammatory arthritis (goat, rheumatoid arthritis, etc)
  • diagnosis of neurological heel pain (radiculopathy)
  • diagnosis of other heel pathology (calcaneal stress fracture, osteomyelitis, plantar fascia neoplasm, plantar fascia rupture, etc)

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Lithuania1 site
  • The Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Department of Rehabilitation

    Kaunas, LT 44307

Other trials in Lithuania

About this study

Official title: Short and Long Term Effect of High Intensity Versus Low-Level Laser Therapy in Treatment of Patients With Achilles Tendinitis or Plantar Fasciitis: A Single Blinded Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

The aim of this study is to evaluate and compare the changes of heel pain, functional health and well-being after high-intensity and low-level laser therapy for plantar fasciitis or Achilles tendinopathy

Read the detailed description

Plantar heel pain, also known as plantar fasciitis, causes soreness or tenderness of the sole of the foot under the heel, which sometimes extends into the medial arch. Pain associated with the condition may cause substantial disability and poor health-related quality of life. Achilles tendinitis is a common etiology of posterior heel pain that results in significant pain and loss of function. Calf exercise is initial management that may be supported by laser therapy. A treatment possibility high-intensity laser therapy is little explored. High-intensity lasers can deliver more energy deeper into tissue. The hypothesis is that both lasers are effective in treatment of plantar fasciitis or Achilles tendinopathy, but high-intensity laser therapy is more effective.

The aim of this study is to evaluate and compare the changes of heel pain, functional health and well-being after high-intensity and low-level laser therapy for plantar fasciitis or Achilles tendinopathy.

The study was approved by Committee on Biomedical Research Ethics of Kaunas Region (2016-07-14 No. BE-2-32). Patients are recruited in out patient clinic of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department in The Hospital of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LSMU) Kauno klinikos.

Being tested
High-intensity laser therapy, Low-level Laser therapy
Keywords
High-Intensity Laser Therapy, Low-level Laser Therapy

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • High-intensity laser therapyDevice

    Also called BTL-6000 High Intensity Laser 12 W with 10 mm pen

    tissue photobiostimulation for pain reduction and healing enhancement.

  • Low-level Laser therapyDevice

    Also called LAS-Expert with laser shower

    tissue photobiostimulation for pain reduction and healing enhancement.

Study groups in NCT03873961
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
High-intensity laser therapyExperimentalThe participants received stretching and exercise guidance and underwent the BTL-6000 High Intensity Laser 12 W with 10 mm pen applicator high intensity laser procedures (mode = continuous, power = 7 W, dose = 120 J/cm2, total time= 7 min. 8 sec.) 3 times per week (total of 8 procedures).
Receives: Device: High-intensity laser therapy
Low-level laser therapyActive comparatorThe participants received stretching and exercise guidance underwent the LAS-Expert with laser shower applicator Low-level Laser therapy procedures (785 nm wavelength, 4,0 J/cm2, 35cm2, 6:40 min) 3 times per week (total of 8 procedures).
Receives: Device: Low-level Laser therapy

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Pain - visual analog scale

    Visual analog scale from 0 to 100 mm ("0" = no pain, "100" = the most intense pain). Heel pain in specific day time (at rest, first morning step, several minutes after first step, first step after prolonged sitting in the middle of the day, in the evening and at night)

    Measured: Baseline

  2. Pain - visual analog scale

    Visual analog scale from 0 to 100 mm ("0" = no pain, "100" = the most intense pain). Heel pain in specific day time (at rest, first morning step, several minutes after first step, first step after prolonged sitting in the middle of the day, in the evening and at night)

    Measured: After 3 weeks of treatment

  3. Pain - visual analog scale

    Visual analog scale from 0 to 100 mm ("0" = no pain, "100" = the most intense pain). Heel pain in specific day time (at rest, first morning step, several minutes after first step, first step after prolonged sitting in the middle of the day, in the evening and at night)

    Measured: 4 weeks follow up

Secondary outcomes (7)
  1. Pain - pressure algometry

    Pressure algometry was performed on both affected and healthy feet. It was measured with algometer (kgf)

    Measured: Baseline to 3 weeks and 4 weeks follow up

  2. Range of motion - goniometry

    Ankle and first toe dorsiflexion and plantarflexion was measured in both affected and healthy feet. It was measured in standardized position with goniometer (degrees)

    Measured: Baseline to 3 weeks and 4 weeks follow up

  3. Tendon thickness measurement - ultrasound

    Thickness of tendon was measured with ultrasound machine in longitudinal view of tendon in both affected and healthy feet (mm).

    Measured: Baseline to 3 weeks and 4 weeks follow up

  4. Functional health and well-being - SF-36v2®

    Paper questionnaire for participants to fill in. Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 2 version (SF-36v2) was used. Measure is divided into 8 subscales and 2 composite domains The 8 subscales are Physical Functioning, Role Limitations due to Physical Problems, General Health Perceptions, Vitality, Social Functioning, Role Limitations due to Emotional Problems, General Mental Health and Health Transition. Respondents were asked to answer items referring to the past 4 weeks Recommended scoring system for the SF-36 is a weighted Likert system for each item Items within subscales are totaled to provide a summed score for each subscale or dimension.

    Each of the 8 summed scores is linearly transformed onto a scale from 0 (negative health) to 100 (positive health) to provide a score for each subscale.

    Measured: Baseline to 3 weeks and 4 weeks follow up

  5. Evaluation of functional condition of patients' feet - Foot Function Index-Revised Short Form

    Paper questionnaire for participants to fill in. The questionnaire consists of 34 questions grouped into 5 subcategories: pain, stiffness, difficulty, activity limitation, and social issues. The answers are represented by a 4-level Likert scale. The numerical 5 is not a Likert scale; it is an option that the particular question is not applicable. A higher score represents worse condition.

    Measured: Baseline to 3 weeks and 4 weeks follow up

  6. Evaluation of functional condition of patients' feet - Foot and Ankle Ability Measure

    Paper questionnaire for participants to fill in. Foot and Ankle Ability Measure consists of the 21-item activities of daily living and 8-item Sports subscales. The response to each item is scored by Likert scale from 4 to 0, with 4 being "no difficulty" and 0 being "unable to do". A higher score represents a higher level of physical function.

    Measured: Baseline to 3 weeks and 4 weeks follow up

  7. Pain - numerical pain rating scale

    Numerical pain rating scale from 0 to 10 ("0" = no pain, "10" = the most intense pain). Heel pain in specific day time (at rest, first morning step, several minutes after first step, first step after prolonged sitting in the middle of the day, in the evening and at night)

    Measured: Baseline to 3, 5, 8, 10, 12, 15 and 17 days (before every laser procedure)

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted14 Mar 2019
  2. Study start3 Jan 2017
  3. Primary completion30 Apr 2019
  4. Study completion30 Apr 2019

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Single blind
Who is masked
Participant
Enrolment
155 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT03873961
Sponsor's protocol ID
2016-07-14 Nr.BE-2-32
Status last verified
Mar 2020
First submitted
3 Mar 2019
Last updated
17 Mar 2020
Results posted
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Undecided

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing High-intensity laser therapy and Low-level Laser therapy in people with Plantar Fascitis and Achilles Tendon Pain, run by Lithuanian University of Health Sciences at 1 site in Lithuania.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 12 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 17 Mar 2020. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Lithuania. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Pain - visual analog scale (time frame: Baseline). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 17 Mar 2020.

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