Can physiotherapy help patients to manage tendon injuries? version1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Can physiotherapists help patients to develop and maintain the skills to manage their lower limb tendon injuries and recovery – the perspectives of patients.
IRAS ID
258034
Contact name
Saskia Walker
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
St George's University of London
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 18 days
Research summary
Tendons are connective tissues which anchor muscles to bone and are designed to withstand force from everyday movements. When injured, individuals experience pain and loss of function. One such injury is called a tendinopathy. A tendinopathy is commonly caused when a tendon is put through a higher force or level of activity than it is used to. Evidence has recognised that in patients with tendinopathy, inflammation is not present, instead, changes occur to the structure of the tendon. Research has identified three main stages of a tendinopathy; reactive, disrepair and degenerative. Each stage is based on changes occurring within the tendon and can be reversed with the right treatment. These developments have identified that effective rehabilitation must include a long-term progressive exercise program.
Adherence to rehabilitation requires individuals to have belief in their ability to perform the exercise required to heal the tendon. This belief is called self-efficacy. Research has identified that higher self-efficacy is associated with greater physical function, increased participation and lower levels of pain. Despite this, there is a lack of research on the impact that physiotherapists have on helping patients to develop and maintain the self-efficacy needed to adhere to a long-term exercise program. This study seeks to establish this from the perspectives of patients with lower limb tendinopathy.
This qualitative, interview-based study will recruit participants who have received physiotherapy, for a lower limb tendinopathy, in the musculoskeletal(MSK) outpatient’s department of St George’s University Hospital. Study criteria include patients over the age of 18, speak fluent English and have completed their course of physiotherapy for lower limb tendinopathy. The study is expected to run for 12 months from March 2019 – March 2020 with data collection expected to last 8 weeks.REC name
East of England - Cambridge South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/EE/0147
Date of REC Opinion
12 Apr 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion