UKSTAR

The Achilles tendon is essential for walking and running, so a rupture can severely affect mobility and daily life. Over 11,000 people in the UK experience this injury each year, and it’s becoming more common as people stay active later in life. Traditionally, patients have been treated with plaster casts that immobilize the leg, but newer walking boots (called functional braces), may offer similar support and help people recover faster. 
UK STAR was a randomised controlled trial comparing these two treatments to find out which worked best. Recovery, quality of life, and costs were tracked for nine months to see which treatment led to better results. 

External Links

Here are relevant links to the study...

• [Main Study Report] 'Plaster cast versus functional brace for non-surgical treatment of Achilles tendon rupture (UKSTAR): a multicentre randomised controlled trial and economic evaluation' published in The Lancet
• [Full Trial Report] 'Plaster cast versus functional bracing for Achilles tendon rupture: the UKSTAR RCT' published in NIHR Journals Library
• [Statistical Analysis Plan] 'Cast versus functional brace in the rehabilitation of patients with a rupture of the Achilles tendon: statistical analysis plan for the UK study of tendo Achilles rehabilitation (UK STAR) multi-centre randomised controlled trial' published in Trials