No effect of extracorporeal shockwave therapy on patellar tendinopathy in jumping athletes during the competitive season: a randomized clinical trial.
Zwerver J, Hartgens F, Verhagen E, van der Worp H, van den Akker-Scheek I, Diercks RL. Am J Sports Med. 2011 Jun;39(6):1191-9. Epub 2011 Feb 1.
This double-blind randomized trial of extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT; 3 sessions at 1 week intervals) for 62 patients with chronic patellar tendinopathy (3 to 12 months of pain) revealed no significant differences in symptoms, function, or sports participation. While there is a lack of evidence to support the efficacy of ESWT for these patients they had no adverse side effects and more patients receiving ESWT thought that their symptoms improved 1 week after treatments. Much more research is needed to justify ESWT but the lack of adverse events and perceived benefit by the patients may indicate this could be safely tried.
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