Patellar Tendinopathy - Effect of Training and Enhancement of the Collagen Synthesis by Insulin-like Growth Factor-I

Effect of Training and Local Infusion of Insulin-like Growth Factor-I and Training on Tendon Structure in Patients With Patellar Tendinopathy

The purpose of the study is to test the hypothesis that stimulation of the synthesis of new structural tendon proteins combined with training improve the tendon structure in patients with chronic knee tendon pain.

Randomized controlled intervention study: 12 weeks intervention period with training and injections of saline or Insulin-Like growth factor I. One year follow-up

Inclusion Criteria:

• chronic patellar tendinopathy (> 3 months)
• anterior-posterior thickening of the tendon (1 mm compared to mid-tendon)
• hypo-echoic area with enhanced vascularization

Exclusion Criteria: injection

• corticosteroid injection within the last 12 months
• Knee operation
• Knee osteoarthritis
• Diabetes
• Smoking
• Body mass index >30