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.


METHODS
Randomized controlled trial.


METHODS
Rheumatology and Rehabilitation Centre.


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


METHODS
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.


RESULTS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Stasinopoulos
Dimitrios
D
Rheumatology and Rehabilitation Centre, Patissia, Athens, Greece. d_stasinopoulos@yahoo.gr
Stasinopoulos
Ioannis
I
D000328:Adult; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D012090:Cumulative Trauma Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010329:Patella; D013710:Tendons; D014464:Ultrasonic Therapy