A pilot study of the eccentric decline squat in the management of painful chronic patellar tendinopathy

Purdam, C. R., Jonsson, P., Alfredson, H., Lorentzon, R., Cook, J. L. and Khan, K. (2004) A pilot study of the eccentric decline squat in the management of painful chronic patellar tendinopathy. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 38 4: 395-397.


Author Purdam, C. R.
Jonsson, P.
Alfredson, H.
Lorentzon, R.
Cook, J. L.
Khan, K.
Title A pilot study of the eccentric decline squat in the management of painful chronic patellar tendinopathy
Journal name British Journal of Sports Medicine  (ERA 2012 Listed)    (ERA 2010 Rank A)   Check publisher's open access policy
Publication date 2004-08
Sub-type Article
DOI 10.1136/bjsm.2003.000053
Volume number 38
Issue number 4
ISSN 0306-3674
1473-0480
Start page 395
End page 397
Total pages 3
Place of publication The United Kingdom
Publisher B M J Publishing Group
Language eng
Subject 1106 Human Movement and Sports Science
Abstract Objectives: This non-randomised pilot study investigated the effect of eccentric quadriceps training on 17 patients (22 tendons) with painful chronic patellar tendinopathy. Methods: Two different eccentric exercise regimens were used by subjects with a long duration of pain with activity (more than six months). (a) Nine consecutive patients (10 tendons; eight men, one woman; mean age 22 years) performed eccentric exercise with the ankle joint in a standard (foot flat) position. (b) Eight patients (12 tendons; five men, three women; mean age 28 years) performed eccentric training standing on a 25° decline board, designed to increase load on the knee extensor mechanism. The eccentric training was performed twice daily, with three sets of 15 repetitions, for 12 weeks. Primary outcome measures were (a) 100 mm visual analogue scale (VAS), where the subject recorded the amount of pain during activity, and (b) return to previous activity. Follow up was at 12 weeks, with a further limited follow up at 15 months. Results: Good clinical results were obtained in the group who trained on the decline board, with six patients (nine tendons) returning to sport and showing a significantly reduced amount of pain over the 12 week period. Mean VAS scores fell from 74.2 to 28.5 (p = 0.004). At 15 months, four patients (five tendons) reported satisfactory results (mean VAS 26.2). In the standard squat group the results were poor, with only one athlete returning to previous activity. Mean VAS scores in this group were 79.0 at baseline and 72.3 at 12 weeks (p = 0.144). Conclusion: In a small group of patients with patellar tendinopathy, eccentric squats on a decline board produced encouraging results in terms of pain reduction and return to function in the short term. Eccentric exercise using standard single leg squats in a similar sized group appeared to be a less effective form of rehabilitation in reducing pain and returning subjects to previous levels of activity.
Keyword Patellar tendinopathy;
Eccentric Exercise
Decline squat
Q-Index Code C1

Document type: Journal Article
Sub-type: Article
Collections: Excellence in Research Australia (ERA) - Collection
School of Human Movement Studies Publications
 
Versions
Version Filter Type
Citation counts: TR Web of Science Citation Count  Cited 61 times in Thomson Reuters Web of Science Article | Citations
Scopus Citation Count Cited 76 times in Scopus Article | Citations
Google Scholar Search Google Scholar
Access Statistics: 59 Abstract Views  -  Detailed Statistics
Created: Thu, 12 Mar 2009, 14:37:09 EST by Jason Parr on behalf of Faculty Of Health Sciences