title: Treatment of patellar tendinopathy--a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Patellar tendinopathy is a common, painful, overuse disorder. Although many different treatment methods have been described, there is no consensus regarding the optimal treatment for this condition. The purpose of this study was to systematically review, summarize, and compare treatments for patellar tendinopathy from published randomized controlled trials.
  
  
  METHODS
  Database searches were performed for randomized prospective controlled trials comparing treatment methods for patellar tendinopathy. The thirteen articles considered relevant were scrutinized according to quality assessment guidelines and levels of evidence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Strong evidence was found for the use of eccentric training to treat patellar tendinopathy. Moderate evidence was found for conservative treatment (heavy slow resistance training) as an alternative to eccentric training. Moderate evidence suggests that low-intensity pulsed ultrasound treatment did not influence treatment outcomes. Limited evidence was found for surgery, sclerosing injections, and shockwave therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Physical training, and particularly eccentric training, appears to be the treatment of choice for patients suffering from patellar tendinopathy. However, type of exercise, frequency, load, and dosage must also be analyzed. Other treatment methods, such as surgical treatment, sclerosing injections, and shockwave therapy, must be investigated further before recommendations can be made regarding their use. Ultrasound can likely be excluded as a treatment for patellar tendinopathy. There is a persistent lack of well-designed studies with sufficiently long-term follow-up and number of patients to draw strong conclusions regarding therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  II.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neuroscience and Rehabilitation/Physiotherapy, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden. maria.eh.larsson@vgregion.se
authors.forename: Maria E H
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Larsson
authors.forename: Ingela
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Käll
authors.forename: Katarina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nilsson-Helander
mesh_terms: D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D019220:High-Energy Shock Waves / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D017847:Patellar Ligament / Q000473:pathology*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012597:Sclerosing Solutions / Q000627:therapeutic use; D052256:Tendinopathy / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D014464:Ultrasonic Therapy
chemical_list: D012597:Sclerosing Solutions