Achilles Tendon Rupture: 12-Month Outcomes After Non-Surgical Rehab

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This cross-sectional observational study evaluates long-term recovery after non-operative management of Achilles tendon ruptures treated with the SMART rehabilitation protocol. Participants from NHS databases attend a single visit at 12–15 months post-injury to have plantarflexor strength measured with isokinetic dynamometry and to complete patient-reported outcomes such as the ATRS and EQ-5D-5L. The assessment includes Achilles Tendon Resting Angle as an indirect measure of tendon elongation, with data collected on peak torque, torque per body mass, and functional status. The study is conducted at Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, with recruitment from existing clinical records. Primary goals are to quantify strength recovery and functional outcomes; secondary analyses will contextualize structural characteristics and compare results within and between participants.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

Aged 18 years or older at the time of recruitment

* Have a confirmed diagnosis of Achilles tendon rupture, diagnosed clinically and recorded within the NHS clinical database
* Have been managed non-surgically using the SMART (Swansea Morriston Achilles Rupture Treatment) rehabilitation protocol
* Be between 12 and 15 months post-injury at the time of study assessment
* Be able and willing to provide written informed consent to participate in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

* Unable to provide informed consent
* Have previously undergone surgical repair of the Achilles tendon or experienced a re-rupture
* Have a neuromuscular or neurological condition that could affect lower limb strength or function
* Did not follow the SMART rehabilitation protocol for non-surgical management
* Have a history of Achilles tendinopathy or rupture in the contralateral (uninjured) limb
* Are unable to tolerate isokinetic strength testing due to pain, discomfort, or other medical reasons

Where it's running

• Broadgreen Hospital Physiotherapy department
  Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom Recruiting
• Aintree University Hospital Therapies department
  Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom Recruiting

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Raymond Healy, BSc. (Hons) Physiotherapy
• Email: raymond.healy@liverpoolft.nhs.uk
• Phone: 0151 529 3335

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.