Eccentric overload training in patients with chronic Achilles tendinopathy: a systematic review.
BACKGROUND
Eccentric overload training seems to be a promising conservative intervention in patients with chronic Achilles tendinopathy. The efficacy of eccentric overload training on the outcome measures of pain and physical functioning are not exactly clear.


METHODS
Systematic review of the literature.


METHODS
Electronic databases were searched for randomised clinical trials concerning eccentric overload training in patients with chronic Achilles tendinopathy. The Delphi list was used to assess the methodological quality of the studies.


RESULTS
Nine clinical trials were included. Only one study had sufficient methodological quality. The included trials showed an improvement in pain after eccentric overload training. Because of the methodological shortcomings of the trials, no definite conclusion can be drawn concerning the effects of eccentric overload training in patients with chronic Achilles tendinopathy.


CONCLUSIONS
The effects of eccentric exercise training in patients with chronic Achilles tendinopathy on pain are promising; however, the magnitude of the effects cannot be determined. Large, methodologically sound studies from multiple sites in which functional outcome measures are included are warranted.
Kingma
J J
JJ
Physiotherapy Research, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
de Knikker
R
R
Wittink
H M
HM
Takken
T
T
D000125:Achilles Tendon / Q000503:physiopathology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D018849:Controlled Clinical Trials as Topic; D003697:Delphi Technique; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D020127:Recovery of Function; D052256:Tendinopathy / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome