Characteristics of the included trials (n=9)
| Study | Source | Participants | Intervention | Outcome measures |
| Dragoo et al 25 | Patients with PT (MRI information) who failed nonoperative treatment aged >18 years | n=21; age: 35 (SD 13); gender: 20 M/1 F | Exp=US-guided dry needling + eccentric exercises (n=12; age 40 years (SD 14); 12 M/0 F) OI = leucocyte-ich PRP injection + eccentric exercises (n=9; age 28 (SD 8); 8M/1F) | Function=VISA-P Pain=VAS Follow-up: 12 weeks and 26 weeks |
| Kongsgaard et al 26 | Recreational male athletes with chronic PT aged 18–50 years | n=37; age: 32.4 years (SD 8.8); gender: 37 M | Exp1=decline eccentric squat training for 12 weeks (n=12; age 31.3 years (SD 8.3); 12 M) Exp2=heavy slow resistance training for 12 weeks (n=13; age 31.7 years (SD 8.5); 13 M) OI=1 mL US-guided injections of 40 mg/mL methylprednisolone in 0.5 mL lidocaine (1%) (n=12; age 34.3 years (SD 10); 12 M) | Function=VISA-P Pain=VAS Follow-up: 12 weeks and 6 months |
| Rigby, Mortensen, Draper23 | Patients with PT aged 18–45 years | n=31; age: 24.8 years (SD N/A); gender: 22 M/9 F | Exp1=dexamethasone sodium phosphate wireless iontophoresis, 2 mL at 0.4% for 2 weeks (n=10; age 26.5 years (SD 6.1); N/A) Exp2=dexamethasone sodium phosphate wired iontophoresis, 2 mL at 0.4% for 2 weeks (n=11; age 21.2 years (SD 2.2); N/A) Sham=2 mL saline placed in drug reservoir of ActivaPatch for 2 weeks (n=10; age 26.0 years (SD 7.4); N/A) | Function=Kujala Anterior Knee Pain Scale Pain=pressure sensitivity Follow-up: 2 weeks |
| Steunebrink et al 36 | Patients with chronic PT aged 18–40 years | n=33; age: 32.9 years (SD 10); gender: 25 M/8 F | Exp=glyceryl trinitrate patch + decline eccentric squats for 12 weeks (n=16; age 31.9 years (SD 9.6); 10 M/4 F) OI=placebo patch + decline eccentric squats for 12 weeks (n=17; age 33.8 years (SD 10.5); 10 M/4 F). | Function=VISA-P Pain=VAS Follow-up: 6 weeks, 12 weeks and 24 weeks |
| Taunton, Taunton and Khan35 | Patients with PT who participated regularly in running and/or jumping sports aged >18 years | n=20; age: 23–52 years; gender: 10 M/10 F | Exp=ESWT (n=10; N/A; 5 M/5 F). Sham=ESWT using energy-absorbing pad (n=10; N/A; 5 M/5 F) | Function: VISA-P Follow-up: 12 weeks |
| Thijs et al 24 | Physically active participants with PT aged 18–40 years | n=52; age: 23–52 years; gender: 38 M/14 F | Exp=ESWT + decline eccentric squats for 3 months (n=22; age 30.5 years(SD 8.0); 14 M/8 F) OI=sham ESWT + decline eccentric squats for 3 months (n=30; age 27.3 years (SD 5.2); 24 M/6 F) | Function=VISA-P Pain=VAS Follow-up: 6, 12 and 24 wk |
| Vetrano et al 34 | Athletes with jumper’s knee (ultrasound imaging) aged 18–50 years | n=46; age: N/A; gender: 37 M/9 F | Exp=ESWT + stretching/muscle-strengthening programme (n=23; age 26.8 years (SD 8.5); 17 M/6 F). OI=US-guided PRP + stretching/muscle-strengthening programme (n=23; age 26.9 years (SD 9.1); 20 M/3 F) | Function: VISA-P Pain: VAS Follow-up: 2, 6 and 12 mo |
| Warden et al 37 | Volunteers with clinically and radiologically confirmed PT aged >18 years | n=37; age: N/A; gender: 30 M/7 F | Exp=active low-intensity pulsed US+decline single-legged squats for 12 wk (n=17; 27 year (SD 7); 12M/5F) OI=inactive low-intensity pulsed US+decline single-legged squats for 12 wk (n=20; age 27 (SD 7); 18M/2F) | Pain: VAS Follow-up: 12 wk |
| Zwerver et al 38 | Volleyball, basketball or handball athletes with PT for 3–12 months aged 18–35 years | n=62; age: 24.9 years (SD 4.9); gender: 41 M/21 F | Exp=ESWT (n=31; age 24.2 (SD 5.2); 20M/11F) Sham=sham ESWT (n=31; age 25.7 (SD 4.5); 21M/10F) | Function: VISA-P Pain: VAS Follow-up: 1, 12 and 22 wk |
n=sample size.
ESWT, extracorporeal shockwave therapy; Exp, experimental group; F, female; M, male; OI, other intervention; PRP, platelet-rich plasma; PT, patellar tendinopathy; US, ultrasound; VAS, Visual Analog Scale; VISA-P, Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment-Patella.