Eccentric Exercises Combined With Electrical Stimulation in the Treatment of Jumper's Knee: A Study on Six High Level Jumping Athletes

Abstract

IntroductionTreatment of patellar tendinopathy (PT)/Jumper's knee (JK) is known to be difficult, and there is no treatment of choice. This work analyses the development of a protocol using eccentric exercises and electrical stimulation, both using maximum tendon loading, to treat elite athletes suffering from Jumper's knee.MethodsSix high level jumping athletes with chronic painful PT/JK completed a 6-month treatment/training programme using eccentric exercises and electrical stimulation. The protocol was done12 weeks in the winter pre-season and 10 weeks in the summer pre-season, for all together 36 months. Pain during patellar tendon loading activity was evaluated on a VAS, before the first session and then every 6 months.ResultsThe VAS average fell significantly when the initial measurement is compared with those at 18, 24 and 48 months (p<0.01). There were no significant differences between the other comparisons, although they always improved when the protocol was followed and worsened following interruption of the latter (p>0.05).DiscussionIn a small group of high level jumping athletes with chronic painful PT/JK, eccentric exercises combined with electrical stimulation showed promising clinical results with significant pain reduction during tendon loading activity.

Patellar tendinopathy: late-stage results from surgical treatment

“…The treatment for patellar tendinopathy is generally conservative and the introduction of eccentric exercises for the quadriceps has significantly reduced the number of patients requiring surgery. 17 , 18 The good results from conservative treatment in most patients explain the small number of published studies in the literature on surgical treatment for this pathological condition and the small number of cases operated. 12 , 13 In turn, this explains the small sample size of our study.…”

“… 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 Functional rehabilitation consists of analgesic and anti-inflammatory measures in association with mechanical therapy consisting of eccentric strengthening and specific stretching. 16 , 17 , 18 …”

Tendinopatia patelar: resultados tardios do tratamento cirúrgico

“…[12][13][14][15] A reabilitação funcional consiste em medidas analgésicas e anti-inflamatórias associadas à mecanoterapia com reforço excêntrico e alongamentos específicos. [16][17][18] Outras opç ões de tratamento, como a injeção de corticosteroides, também são usadas, embora muitos autores apresentem opiniões divergentes sobre sua eficácia e segurança. 19 A aplicação de plasma rico em plaquetas vem ganhando mais adeptos, porém apresenta resultados ainda inconclusivos.…”