Eccentric Loading Compared with Shock Wave Treatment for Chronic Insertional Achilles Tendinopathy

Jan D. Rompe, John Furia and Nicola Maffulli

The aim of this trial was to verify the effectiveness of both procedures exclusively in patients with insertional Achilles tendinopathy. Fifty patients with chronic (six months or more) recalcitrant insertional Achilles tendinopathy were enrolled in a randomized, controlled study. All patients had received treatment, including local injections of an anesthetic and/or corticosteroids, a prescription of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and physiotherapy, without success for at least three months. Twenty-five patients were allocated to receive eccentric loading (Group 1), and twenty-five patients were allocated to treatment with repetitive low-energy shock wave therapy (Group 2).

Eccentric loading as applied in this study showed inferior results to low-energy shock wave therapy as applied in patients with chronic recalcitrant tendinopathy of the insertion of the Achilles tendon at four months of follow-up.

The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (American), 2008, 90, 52-61.

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