MedTrace Logo

Bracing and Strengthening for Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction

NCT00756457 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: PHASE2 · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 39

Last updated 2014-07-02

Study results available
· View outcomes & findings →

Summary

Posterior tibial tendon dysfunction (PTTD) is a problem with the tendon connecting one of the lower leg muscles to the foot bone. PTTD can cause pain, swelling, and a flattened foot and may require surgery if left untreated. Normal treatment for PTTD includes physical therapy exercise. In treating similar conditions in the lower leg, exercises that are active, like strengthening, seem to have better results than exercises that are passive, like stretching. This study will determine whether adding strengthening exercises to a normal PTTD treatment that includes wearing a brace and stretching is more beneficial than just wearing a brace and stretching.

Conditions

  • Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction

Interventions

DEVICE

Bracing

Participants will wear a brace that includes ankle stirrup support and medial longitudinal arch support. The brace will be worn during weight-bearing tasks throughout the 12-week study.

OTHER

Strengthening exercises

Participants performed strengthening exercises progressively longer each time for up to 3 sets of 30 repetitions twice daily by the third visit. Exercises included bilateral heel raises, foot adduction/rear foot inversion with thera-tubing, and unilateral heel raises. Participants increased resistance by using thera-bands with higher levels of resistance over the 12 week period. The amount of resistance was progressed according to patient tolerance at each visit. Strengthening exercises were preceded by the control stretching exercises which constituted a "warm up."

OTHER

Stretching exercises

Subjects were provided with written descriptions and pictures demonstrating 2 range-of-motion exercises which included a wall calf stretch, and a supine ankle active range-of-motion exercise. Subjects were instructed to perform 3 sets of the stretching exercises, 2 times a day, similar to the intervention group. Each stretching exercise was performed twice and held for 30 seconds.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)

    collaborator NIH

  • Ithaca College

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Jeff R. Houck, PhD, PT · Ithaca College - Rochester Center

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
40 Years
Max Age
80 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2007-07-31
Primary Completion
2008-09-30
Completion
2008-09-30

Countries

  • United States

Study Locations

More Related Trials

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT00756457 on ClinicalTrials.gov