Comparison of effects of exercise programme, pulsed ultrasound and transverse friction in the treatment of chronic patellar tendinopathy.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the effectiveness of an exercise programme, pulsed ultrasound and transverse friction in the treatment of chronic patellar tendinopathy.

DESIGN

Randomized controlled trial.

SETTING

Rheumatology and Rehabilitation Centre.

SUBJECTS: This study was carried out with 30 patients who had chronic patellar tendinopathy. They were randomized into three groups.

INTERVENTIONS: Group A (n = 10) was treated with exercise programme. Pulsed ultrasound was given to group B (n = 10). Group C (n = 10) received transverse friction. All patients received three treatments per week for four weeks.

OUTCOMES: Patients' pain was evaluated at the end of the four-week course of treatment (week 4), one month (week 8) and three months (week 16) after the end of treatment.

RESULTS

The exercise programme was statistically significantly better than the other two treatments at the end of treatment (chi2 = 12.21, p < 0.01), one month (chi2 = 23.2, p < 0.001) and three months (chi2 = 23.2, p < 0.001) after the end of the treatment.

CONCLUSION

Although the results suggested that the exercise programme was more effective treatment than ultrasound and transverse friction at the end of the treatment as well as at the follow-ups, future controlled studies are needed to establish the relative and absolute effectiveness of each of the three treatment interventions.