Clinical trial NCT06846593: The Comparison of Semiconductor Embedded Therapeutic Arm Sleeves for the Treatment of ECRB Tendinopathy
Official title: The Comparison and Combination of Semiconductor Embedded Therapeutic Arm Sleeves and Platelet-Rich Plasma With Adipose Stem Cell (PRP+ASC) Injections for the Treatment of ECRB Tendinopathy (Lateral Epicondylitis): A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Prospective Clinical Trial
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: ENROLLING_BY_INVITATION
Phase: NA
Conditions: ECRB Tendinopathy
Keywords: ECRB
lateral epicondylitis
tendinopathy
tennis elbow
extensor carpi radialis brevis
platelet-rich plasma
PRP
stem cell therapy
arm sleeves
Lead sponsor: INCREDIWEAR HOLDINGS, INC.
Sponsor class: INDUSTRY
First posted: 2025-02-26
Enrollment: 80
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 65
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Intervention model description: Subjects will determine whether they would like to receive Standard of Care (SOC) PRP+ASC injections. Then, the subjects will be randomly assigned to the study group in which they will receive a real or sham semiconductor embedded sleeve. The subjects will be instructed to wear the sleeve for a minimum of 12 hours per day, including overnight, for the entire duration of the study.
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: This study seeks to identify patient reported and clinically measured outcomes for pain management and elbow function with application of semiconductor embedded fabric combined with PRP+ASC injections in the affected area.

Detailed description: Extensor Carpi Radialis Brevis (ECRB) tendinopathy, also known as lateral epicondylitis or tennis elbow, is the most prevalent elbow soft tissue injury and affects 1-3% of the population. Repetitive overloading of the tendon and ligaments in the elbow lead to microtraumas, causing abnormal angiofibroblastic remodeling and increased pain. Microtearing occurs most commonly at the origin of the extensor carpi radialis brevis (ECRB) tendon. The main symptoms include a loss of grip strength, a burning sensation near the ECRB origin site, and pain during daily activities such as grasping objects or shaking hands. Both conditions present a significant injury and treatment burden on the population and effective treatment and pain management approaches with minimal side effects are needed.

Novel nonsurgical treatment approaches for ECRB tendinopathy include platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections and stem cell therapy. Ultrasound-guided PRP and adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) injections have shown to be an effective treatment option for patients with chronic ECRB tendinopathy.

The proposed study seeks to assess the effect of non-compressive semiconductor embedded arm sleeves in combination with PRP + ASC injections, throughout a 6-month rehabilitation course for patients with ECRB tendinopathy. Outcome measures will be collected at standardized intervals to evaluate and compare treatment groups.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

1. Patients diagnosed with ECRB tendinopathy as determined by radiographic assessment or ultrasound imaging.
2. Patients age 18-65
3. Patients who are willing and able to adhere to follow-up schedule and protocol guidelines.
4. Patients who are willing and able to sign corresponding research subject consent form.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patient has a history of neurological conditions, including multiple sclerosis or Parkinson's disease
2. Patient has severe medical condition, including recent myocardial infarction, unstable angina, heart failure, severe anemia
3. Patient has had prior surgical treatment of the elbow in the last 5 years or injection treatment(s) in the last 2 years
4. Patient has complete tear of ECRB tendon or other surgical indication
5. Patient has chronic pain conditions unrelated to elbow condition
6. Patient has auto-immune or auto-inflammatory diseases
7. Patient has used tobacco within the last 90 days
8. Patient is not within the ages of 18-65
9. Patient has a history of metabolic disorders
10. Patient has an active infection (local or systemic)
11. Patient is unwilling or unable to sign the corresponding research subject consent form
12. Patient meets any other criteria or has any other condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, would prevent them from completing the study or that, in the opinion of the investigator, would confound study results.

Primary outcomes:
measure: Change in patient elbow function and pain as determined by the Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation (PRTEE).
timeFrame: 6 months
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Change in pain as determined by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS).
timeFrame: 6 months
measure: Change in patient elbow function as determined by the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH).
timeFrame: 6 months
measure: Change in grip strength as measured by a hand dynamometer
timeFrame: 6 months
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Chesterfield
country: United States
facility: Bluetail Medical Group
state: Missouri
Study officials:
affiliation: Bluetail Medical Group
name: Dr. Matthew Bayes, MD, Medical
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
citation: Bisset LM, Collins NJ, Offord SS. Immediate effects of 2 types of braces on pain and grip strength in people with lateral epicondylalgia: a randomized controlled trial. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2014 Feb;44(2):120-8. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2014.4744. Epub 2014 Jan 9.
citation: Jensen MP, McFarland CA. Increasing the reliability and validity of pain intensity measurement in chronic pain patients. Pain. 1993 Nov;55(2):195-203. doi: 10.1016/0304-3959(93)90148-I.
citation: Rompe JD, Overend TJ, MacDermid JC. Validation of the Patient-rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation Questionnaire. J Hand Ther. 2007 Jan-Mar;20(1):3-10; quiz 11. doi: 10.1197/j.jht.2006.10.003.
citation: Beaton DE, Katz JN, Fossel AH, Wright JG, Tarasuk V, Bombardier C. Measuring the whole or the parts? Validity, reliability, and responsiveness of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand outcome measure in different regions of the upper extremity. J Hand Ther. 2001 Apr-Jun;14(2):128-46.
citation: Cho SY, Roh YS, Roh HT. Evaluation of tympanic temperature and thermal sensation responses during exercise to verify the positive effects of wearing germanium-coated functional clothing. J Phys Ther Sci. 2016 Jun;28(6):1860-3. doi: 10.1589/jpts.28.1860. Epub 2016 Jun 28.
citation: Kyselovic J, Masarik J, Kechemir H, Koscova E, Turudic II, Hamblin MR. Physical properties and biological effects of ceramic materials emitting infrared radiation for pain, muscular activity, and musculoskeletal conditions. Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed. 2023 Jan;39(1):3-15. doi: 10.1111/phpp.12799. Epub 2022 May 21.
citation: Park JH, Lee S, Cho DH, Park YM, Kang DH, Jo I. Far-infrared radiation acutely increases nitric oxide production by increasing Ca(2+) mobilization and Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II-mediated phosphorylation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase at serine 1179. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2013 Jul 12;436(4):601-6. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2013.06.003. Epub 2013 Jun 10.
citation: Leung TK. In Vitro and In Vivo Studies of the Biological Effects of Bioceramic (a Material of Emitting High Performance Far-Infrared Ray) Irradiation. Chin J Physiol. 2015 Jun 30;58(3):147-55. doi: 10.4077/CJP.2015.BAD294.
citation: Duranti C, Bagni G, Iorio J, Colasurdo R, Devescovi V, Arcangeli A. Effects of Germanium embedded fabric on the chondrogenic differentiation of adipose derived stem cells. Tissue Cell. 2024 Oct;90:102507. doi: 10.1016/j.tice.2024.102507. Epub 2024 Jul 30.
citation: Justice TE, Jacob PB. Non-compressive sleeves versus compression stockings after total knee arthroplasty: A prospective pilot study. J Orthop. 2023 Nov 24;49:102-106. doi: 10.1016/j.jor.2023.11.044. eCollection 2024 Mar.
citation: Vatansever F, Hamblin MR. Far infrared radiation (FIR): its biological effects and medical applications. Photonics Lasers Med. 2012 Nov 1;4:255-266. doi: 10.1515/plm-2012-0034.
citation: Marino K, Lee R, Lee P. Effect of Germanium-Embedded Knee Sleeve on Osteoarthritis of the Knee. Orthop J Sports Med. 2019 Oct 25;7(10):2325967119879124. doi: 10.1177/2325967119879124. eCollection 2019 Oct.
citation: Masiello F, Pati I, Veropalumbo E, Pupella S, Cruciani M, De Angelis V. Ultrasound-guided injection of platelet-rich plasma for tendinopathies: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Blood Transfus. 2023 Mar;21(2):119-136. doi: 10.2450/2022.0087-22. Epub 2022 Oct 17.
citation: Lee SY, Kim W, Lim C, Chung SG. Treatment of Lateral Epicondylosis by Using Allogeneic Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells: A Pilot Study. Stem Cells. 2015 Oct;33(10):2995-3005. doi: 10.1002/stem.2110. Epub 2015 Aug 6.
citation: Khoury M, Tabben M, Rolon AU, Levi L, Chamari K, D'Hooghe P. Promising improvement of chronic lateral elbow tendinopathy by using adipose derived mesenchymal stromal cells: a pilot study. J Exp Orthop. 2021 Jan 26;8(1):6. doi: 10.1186/s40634-020-00320-z.
citation: Chen X, Jones IA, Park C, Vangsness CT Jr. The Efficacy of Platelet-Rich Plasma on Tendon and Ligament Healing: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis With Bias Assessment. Am J Sports Med. 2018 Jul;46(8):2020-2032. doi: 10.1177/0363546517743746. Epub 2017 Dec 21.
citation: Karjalainen TV, Silagy M, O'Bryan E, Johnston RV, Cyril S, Buchbinder R. Autologous blood and platelet-rich plasma injection therapy for lateral elbow pain. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2021 Sep 30;9(9):CD010951. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD010951.pub2.
citation: Dejnek M, Moreira H, Placzkowska S, Barg E, Reichert P, Krolikowska A. Effectiveness of Lateral Elbow Tendinopathy Treatment Depends on the Content of Biologically Active Compounds in Autologous Platelet-Rich Plasma. J Clin Med. 2022 Jun 27;11(13):3687. doi: 10.3390/jcm11133687.
citation: Kwapisz A, Prabhakar S, Compagnoni R, Sibilska A, Randelli P. Platelet-Rich Plasma for Elbow Pathologies: a Descriptive Review of Current Literature. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2018 Dec;11(4):598-606. doi: 10.1007/s12178-018-9520-1.