Efficacy of the Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy in Athletes With Patellar Tendinopathy

Efficacy of the Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy in Athletes With Patellar Tendinopathy

The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) in addition to eccentric exercise on the clinical outcomes of PT in the treatment of athletes with patellar tendinopathy (PT). Participants will be randomly divided into two groups. The intervention group will receive focus ESWT 3 times a week in addition to 6 weeks of exercise. The control group will be given 6 weeks of exercise. Evaluations will be made at the 3rd and 6th weeks, and at the 3rd, 6th and 12th months. Patient evaluation will begin with obtaining sociodemographic information. Patients' pain level will be assessed using visual analog scale (VAS), tendon pain and function VISA-P, functional capacity; The patients will be assessed with the maximal vertical jump test (MDS), single leg jump distance test (SLHD), single leg squat test (STS) on the incline board, pain catastrophe with the pain catastrophe scale (PCS), kinesiophobia with the Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale (TKS), quality of life short form-12 (SF-12) and physical activity level with the Tegner Activity Scale (TAS).

Inclusion Criteria:

• Localized pain in the inferior pole of the patella during single-leg squatting due to load,
• Pain or tenderness with palpation of the patellar tendon,
• Complaints of pain in the patellar tendon due to training, competition or physical activity in the last 6 months,
• Performing sports/physical activities related to jumping and landing,
• Professional and recreational athletes who perform at least 5 and above according to the Tegner Activity score,
• VISA-P scale score <80 out of 100.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Presence of other knee pathologies,
• Known presence of inflammatory joint diseases or familial hypercholesterolemia,
• Daily use of drugs with presumed effects on the patellar tendon (e.g. fluoroquinolones) in the last 12 months,
• Local injection therapy with corticosteroids in the last 12 months,
• Previous patellar tendon rupture,
• Any lower extremity surgery in the last 6 months.