Patellar Tendinopathy
Conditions
Brief summary
Patellar tendinopathy is one of the most common injuries in jumping athletes. Changes in mechanical and physiological properties of tendon are the two proposed forms of pathogenesis. The efficacy of eccentric exercise when applied alone and combined with extrocoporeal shockwave therapy had been reported; however, the underlying treatment mechanisms of pain and dysfunction are not clear. This project aimed to explore the mechanical, physiological and therapeutic effects of eccentric exercise when applied as a single treatment and as an adjunct to extracorporeal shockwave therapy.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALEccentric exercise
Knee eccentric exercise with sham or focused extrocorporeal shockwave therapy for 12 weeks
Sponsors
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Competitive athletes * Pain at the inferior pole of the patella with training for at least 3 months * Tenderness at the inferior pole of the patella on palpation
Exclusion criteria
* Patellofemoral pain syndrome, fat pad irritations, meniscus injury, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or infections * History of fracture over lower limbs and inflammatory myopathies * Cortisone injuection and other interventions within 3 months * Contraindication to extracorporeal shockwave therapy
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change of tendon vascularity index as percentage at 16 weeks | 16 weeks | Tendon vascularity measured by power doppler ultrasonography |
| Tendon stress in pascals at baseline | Before intervention | Tendon stress measured by ultrasonography and dynamometry |
| Change of tendon stress in pascals at 12 weeks | 12 weeks | Tendon stress measured by ultrasonography and dynamometry |
| Change of tendon stress in pascals at 16 weeks | 16 weeks | Tendon stress measured by ultrasonography and dynamometry |
| Tendon vascularity index as percentage at baseline | Before intervention | Tendon vascularity measured by power doppler ultrasonography |
| Change of tendon vascularity index as percentage at 12 weeks | 12 weeks | Tendon vascularity measured by power doppler ultrasonography |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Tendon related pain on visual analogy scale at baseline | Before intervention | Maximal intensity of self-perceived pain in the past 7 days, pain during single-leg declined-squat test |
| Change of tendon related pain on visual analogy scale at 12 weeks | 12 weeks | Maximal intensity of self-perceived pain in the past 7 days, pain during single-leg declined-squat test |
| Change of tendon related pain on visual analogy scale at 16 weeks | 16 weeks | Maximal intensity of self-perceived pain in the past 7 days, pain during single-leg declined-squat test |
| Tendon related dysfunction by questionnaire at baseline | Before intervention | Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment Questionnaire - Patellar Tendon |
| Change of tendon related dysfunction by questionnaire at 12 weeks | 12 weeks | Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment Questionnaire - Patellar Tendon |
| Change of tendon related dysfunction by questionnaire at 16 weeks | 16 weeks | Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment Questionnaire - Patellar Tendon |
Outcome results
None listed