TY - JOUR T1 - Eccentric treatment for patellar tendinopathy: a prospective randomised short-term pilot study of two rehabilitation protocols JF - British Journal of Sports Medicine JO - Br J Sports Med SP - e7 LP - e7 DO - 10.1136/bjsm.2006.032599 VL - 41 IS - 7 AU - Anna Frohm AU - Tönu Saartok AU - Kjartan Halvorsen AU - Per Renström Y1 - 2007/07/01 UR - http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/41/7/e7.abstract N2 - Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety of two eccentric rehabilitation protocols for patients with symptomatic patellar tendinopathy. A new eccentric overload training device was compared with the present standard eccentric rehabilitation programme on a decline board. Design: Prospective, randomised clinical trial. Setting: Sports rehabilitation clinic, university sports laboratory, supplemented with home exercises. Patients: 20 competitive and recreational athletes, all with clinical diagnosis of patellar tendinopathy, verified by MRI or ultrasound imaging. Interventions: A 12-week rehabilitation period, either with bilateral eccentric overload strength training using the Bromsman device twice a week or with unilateral eccentric body load training using a decline board twice a week, supplemented with daily home exercises. Outcome measures: The primary outcome was pain and function, assessed by the Swedish Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment for Patella (VISA-P) score. Secondary outcome measures were isokinetic muscle torque, dynamic function and muscle flexibility, as well as pain level estimations using visual analogue scale (VAS). Side effects were registered. Results: Both treatment groups improved in the short term according to the VISA-P scores during the 12-week rehabilitation period. However, there were no significant differences between the groups in terms of pain and function. After a 3-month rehabilitation period, most patients could be regarded as improved enough to be able to return to training and sports. No serious side effects were detected in either group. Conclusion: In patients with patellar tendinopathy pain, two-legged eccentric overload training twice per week, using the new device (Bromsman), was as efficient and safe as the present standard daily eccentric one-legged rehabilitation-training regimen using a decline board. ER -