Clinical trials

This study is a clinical trial that evaluates the best treatment option using a strength training protocol and an endurance training protocol in patients with lower limb amputations who use prostheses. The protocol consists of 6 weeks of strength training and 6 weeks of endurance training, with a 1-month washout period between the two.

The objective of this study will be to determine whether the combination of movement imaging techniques with neural mobilization (NM) exercises works to modify median nerve sensitivity to mechanical stimuli. Movement Representation Techniques (MRTs) are defined as therapeutic or training systems that neurophysiologically evoke a perceptual-cognitive representation of movement. They can be combined with the execution of actual movement or with afferent sensory stimulation (motor command). There is evidence demonstrating positive results in pain reduction and improved range of motion using MRTs alone. The study will be evaluated in 10 randomly selected asymptomatic volunteers, considering the following variables: pressure pain threshold, elbow extensor range of motion, and sensory responses before and after the intervention, in both the experimental and control groups. The period between interventions will be 72 hours.

The aim of this study will be to determine the clinical effects of rigid tape in patients with chronic MAT. The secondary outcomes will be to evaluate the immediate and short term pain, the height and pain during the vertical jump, the satisfaction of the use of the tape and the global rating of change (GROC) of the intervention. This study will be a double-blinded randomized clinical trial comprising a total sample size of 36 participants with MAT of both genders and aged between 18 and 50 years. Subjects will undergo a screening process by a sports medicine doctor by different diagnostic tests to identify those presenting a diagnosis of painful MAT and then, they will be randomized into either a group performing experimental rigid tape (G1), or a group performing placebo tape (G2). The study will assess the subjects immediate and short-term tendon pain following the tape application during running and vertical jump. Also the tape satisfaction and GROC will be assessed. The rigid tape will be applied in the central portion of the Achilles tendon. Primary and secondary outcomes will be measured at baseline, immediate after the application of the tape and 72 hours after. The GROC will only be assessed at the end of the treatment. All the evaluations will be performed by a blinded physiotherapist. The patient will also be blinded.

Midportion Achilles tendinopathy (MAT) is a common overuse injury of the lower extremity characterized by the presence of pain, restricted function and interruption of sport activities. Conservative management of MAT has been suggested as the first line of treatment. Actually, there are several exercise programs with beneficial effects on pain and function among which high load training stands out. However, this training modality is inherently difficult to implement in certain populations and pathological conditions due to their inability to tolerate this mechanical stress. In this sense, low load training with blood flow restriction (BFR-LLT) emerges as an effective option in producing hypertrophic adaptations with low intensities (30% 1RM). However, this training modality has not yet been studied in tendon pathology. The aim of this study is to evaluate the potential clinical effects of BFR-LLT in comparison with HLT in patients with chronic MAT.