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Intramuscular stimulation vs sham needling for the treatment of chronic midportion Achilles tendinopathy: A randomized controlled clinical trial.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:The insertion of filiform needles intramuscularly (a.k.a. intramuscular stimulation/dry needling) has been suggested as a possible treatment for various painful musculoskeletal conditions. Our aim was to answer the question, is intramuscular stimulation more effective than sham intramuscular stimulation/dry needling for the treatment of Achilles tendinopathy? METHODS:52 participants with persistent midportion Achilles tendinopathy began and 46 completed one of three treatment protocols which were randomly assigned: (G3) a 12-week rehabilitation program of progressive tendon loading plus intramuscular stimulation (n = 25), (G2) the same rehabilitation program but with sham intramuscular stimulation (n = 19), or (G1) a reference group of rehabilitation program alone (as an additional control) (n = 8). The a priori primary outcome measure was change in VISA-A score at 12 weeks-VISA-A was also measured at 6 weeks, and at 6 and 12 months. Secondary outcome measures include the proportion of patients who rated themselves as much or very much improved (%), dorsiflexion range of motion (degrees), and tendon thickness (mm). RESULTS:The study retention was 94% at 12 weeks and 88% at 1 year. VISA-A score improved in all three groups over time (p<0.0001), with no significant difference among the three groups in VISA-A score at the start of the study (mean ± SD: G3 59 ± 13, G2 57 ± 17, G1 56 ± 22), at 12 weeks (G3 76 ± 14, G2 76 ± 15, G1 82 ± 11) or at any other timepoint. The percentage of patients who rated themselves as much or very much improved (i.e. treatment success) was not different after 12 weeks (G3 70%, G2 89%, G1 86% p = 0.94), or at 26 (p = 0.62) or 52 weeks (p = 0.71). No clinically significant effects of intervention group were observed in any of the secondary outcome measures. CONCLUSION:The addition of intramuscular stimulation to standard rehabilitation for Achilles tendinopathy did not result in any improvement over the expected clinical benefit achieved with exercise-based rehabilitation alone.

SUBMITTER: Solomons L

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7478532 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Intramuscular stimulation vs sham needling for the treatment of chronic midportion Achilles tendinopathy: A randomized controlled clinical trial.

Solomons Lyndal L Lee Jenny J Y JJY Bruce Margaret M White Lynita D LD Scott Alex A

PloS one 20200908 9

<h4>Background</h4>The insertion of filiform needles intramuscularly (a.k.a. intramuscular stimulation/dry needling) has been suggested as a possible treatment for various painful musculoskeletal conditions. Our aim was to answer the question, is intramuscular stimulation more effective than sham intramuscular stimulation/dry needling for the treatment of Achilles tendinopathy?<h4>Methods</h4>52 participants with persistent midportion Achilles tendinopathy began and 46 completed one of three tre ...[more]

PMID: 32898170

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Project description:ImportancePlatelet-rich plasma injections are used as a treatment for chronic midportion Achilles tendinopathy, but evidence for this treatment is limited.ObjectiveIn adults with midportion Achilles tendinopathy, to assess the effects of a single platelet-rich plasma injection, compared with sham injection, on the outcome of the Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment-Achilles (VISA-A) score (a single composite measure of Achilles tendinopathy severity).Design, setting, and participantsA participant-blinded, multicenter randomized clinical trial that included 240 people from 24 sites assigned to either a platelet-rich plasma injection or a sham injection between April 2016 and February 2020. Final follow-up was July 2020. Participants were older than 18 years with midportion Achilles tendon pain for more than 3 months as confirmed by ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, or both.InterventionsA single intratendinous platelet-rich plasma injection (n = 121) or a single sham injection (insertion of a subcutaneous dry needle not entering the tendon) (n = 119).Main outcomes and measuresThe primary outcome was the VISA-A score, measured 6 months after treatment allocation. The VISA-A score contains 8 questions that cover 3 domains of pain, function, and activity, analyzed as a composite score (range, 0 [worst symptoms] to 100 [no symptoms]; minimal clinically important difference in score, 12 points). The primary analysis was adjusted for laterality, age, sex, and baseline VISA-A score.ResultsAmong 240 patients assigned to a platelet-rich plasma or sham injection (mean age, 52 years; 138 [58%] women), 221 (92%) completed the trial. At 6-month follow-up, mean VISA-A score values in the plasma-rich plasma group vs the sham injection group were 54.4 vs 53.4 (adjusted mean difference, -2.7 [95% CI, -8.8 to 3.3]). The most common adverse events compared between patients in the platelet-rich plasma group vs the sham group were injection site discomfort (97 vs 73 patients), swelling (56 vs 52 patients) and bruising (48 vs 49 patients).Conclusions and relevanceAmong patients with chronic midportion Achilles tendinopathy, treatment with a single injection of intratendinous platelet-rich plasma, compared with insertion of a subcutaneous dry needle, did not reduce Achilles tendon dysfunction at 6 months. These findings do not support the use of this treatment for chronic midportion Achilles tendinopathy.Trial registrationisrctn.org Identifier: ISRCTN13254422.

Project description:BackgroundMidportion Achilles tendinopathy (AT) can cause long-term absence from sports participation, and shows high recurrence rates. It is important that the decision to return to sport (RTS) is made carefully, based on sharply delimited criteria. Lack of a well-defined definition and criteria hampers the decision to RTS among athletes with AT, and impedes comparison of RTS rates between different studies.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to systematically review the literature for definitions of, and criteria for, RTS in AT research.Study designQualitative systematic review.MethodsThe PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane, CINAHL, PEDro, and Scopus electronic databases were searched for articles that reported on the effect of a physiotherapeutic intervention for midportion AT. Article selection was independently performed by two researchers. Qualitative content analysis was used to analyze the included studies and extract definitions of, and criteria for, RTS.ResultsThirty-five studies were included in the content analysis, showing large variety in both the definitions and criteria. Thirty-two studies reported a definition of RTS, but only 19 studies described the criteria for RTS. The content analysis revealed that 'reaching pre-injury activity/sports level, with the ability to perform training and matches without limitations', 'absence of pain', and 'recovery' were the main content categories used to define RTS. Regarding the criteria for RTS, eight different content categories were defined: (1) 'level of pain'; (2) 'level of functional recovery'; (3) 'recovery of muscle strength'; (4) 'recovery of range of motion'; (5) 'level of endurance of the involved limb'; (6) 'medical advice'; (7) 'psychosocial factors'; and (8) 'anatomical/physiological properties of the musculotendinous complex'. Many criteria were not clearly operationalized and lacked specific information.ConclusionsThis systematic review shows that RTS may be defined according to the pre-injury level of sports (including both training and matches), but also with terms related to the absence of pain and recovery. Multiple criteria for RTS were found, which were all related to level of pain, level of functional recovery, muscular strength, range of motion, endurance, medical advice, psychosocial factors, or anatomical/physiological properties of the Achilles tendon. For most of the criteria we identified, no clear operationalization was given, which limits their validity and practical usability. Further research on how RTS after midportion AT should be defined, and which criteria should be used, is warranted.Prospero registration numberCRD42017062518.

Project description:ObjectiveTo study whether a high volume injection without corticosteroids improves clinical outcome in addition to usual care for adults with chronic midportion Achilles tendinopathy.DesignPatient and assessor blinded, placebo controlled randomised clinical trial.SettingSports medicine department of a large district general hospital, the Netherlands.Participants80 adults (aged 18-70 years) with clinically diagnosed chronic midportion Achilles tendinopathy and neovascularisation on ultrasonography. 39 were randomised to a high volume injection without corticosteroids and 41 to placebo.InterventionsParticipants were instructed to perform an exercise programme for 24 weeks (usual care) combined with one 50 mL high volume injection of saline and lidocaine (intervention group) or one 2 mL placebo injection of saline and lidocaine (placebo group) at baseline.Main outcome measuresPrimary outcome was pain and function assessed using the validated Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment-Achilles (VISA-A) questionnaire at 24 weeks (analysed using a generalised estimation equations model). Secondary outcomes were patient satisfaction, return to sport, degree of ultrasonographic Doppler flow, visual analogue scale on 10 hop test, power and flexibility of the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles, pain detect questionnaire for neuropathic pain, and pain coping inventory. Participants were evaluated at baseline and at 2, 6, 12, and 24 weeks.ResultsOnly one participant (1%) was lost to follow-up. The estimated mean VISA-A score improved significantly, from 40.4 (95% confidence interval 32.0 to 48.7) at baseline to 59.1 (50.4 to 67.8) at 24 weeks in the high volume injection group and from 36.9 (27.1 to 46.8) to 58.5 (47.9 to 69.1) in the placebo group. The VISA-A score over time did not differ between the groups (adjusted between group difference at 24 weeks 0.5 points, 95% confidence interval -17.8 to 18.8). No significant between group differences were found for patient satisfaction (21/37 (57%) v 19/39 (49%) patients, P=0.50) and return to desired sport (15/29 (52%) v 19/31 (61%) patients active in sports, P=0.65) at 24 weeks. None of the other secondary outcomes differed between the two groups.ConclusionsA high volume injection without corticosteroids in addition to usual care is not effective for symptom reduction in patients with chronic midportion Achilles tendinopathy. On the basis of our findings, we cannot recommend the use of a high volume injection in this patient group.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT02996409.

Project description:BackgroundInsertional Achilles tendinopathy (IAT) is a common cause of chronic posterior heel pain. Surgical intervention reproducibly improves patients' pain and functional status. We hypothesized that patients older than 60 years would have similar improvements in pain and function and low rates of complications after surgery for IAT when compared to a younger cohort.MethodsRetrospective review of adult case series in patients undergoing surgical management of IAT. Patients were stratified into those 60 years and younger and those older than 60 years. Patients with prior or concomitant surgical procedures and revisions were excluded. Visual analog scale (VAS), Short Form-36 Physical Component Summary and Mental Component Summary (SF-36 PCS/MCS) scores, wound infection, and recurrence, defined as a redevelopment of heel pain in the operative extremity within 6 months, were assessed with a minimum follow-up of 12 months. Statistical analysis was performed using linear regression mixed models and χ2 analysis. Thirty-seven patients were enrolled, with 38 operative heels. The younger cohort had an average age of 49.1 (range, 26-60) years. The older group had an average age of 66.8 (range, 61-76) years.ResultsVAS and SF-36 PCS scores for the entire cohort significantly improved at 6 and 12 months postoperatively (P < .001). Postoperative SF-36 MCS scores for the cohort significantly improved only at 12 months (P < .001). No significant differences between the young and elderly were seen with regard to improvements in VAS and SF-36 PCS/MCS at 6 or 12 months postoperatively. Multiple linear regression models showed no significant difference between age groups and VAS score, SF-36 PCS/MCS, or change in pain scores after controlling for comorbidities. No significant difference in overall complication rates was seen between the 2 groups (4.9% vs 29.4%, P = .104). There was 1 recurrence of heel pain in the younger group and 4 recurrences of pain in the older group (23.5%) at 6 months, of which 2 resolved at 1 year. There was 1 case of a superficial wound infection requiring antibiotics in the older cohort (5.9%). No patients required surgical revision.ConclusionSurgical management of IAT in an older population produced similar improvements in clinical results when compared to a younger cohort, with no significant increase in postoperative complications.Level of evidenceLevel III, retrospective comparative series.

Project description:BackgroundAchilles tendinopathy (AT) is a common overuse injury in running-related sports where patients experience pain and impaired function which can persist. A graded rehabilitation program has been successful in reducing pain and improving function to enable a return to sport. The aim of this study is to compare the effectiveness of a criteria-based rehabilitation program including strength and reactive strength targets, with a previously successful rehabilitation program on changes in pain and function using the Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment-Achilles (VISA-A) questionnaire. Secondary aims will be to assess changes in calf strength, reactive strength, and lower limb running and forward hop biomechanics over the course of a 12-week rehabilitation program, and long-term follow-up investigations.MethodsSixty eligible participants with chronic mid-portion AT who train in running-based sports will be included in this study. They will be randomly assigned to a group that will follow an evidence-based rehabilitation program of daily exercises with progression guided by symptoms or a group performing 3 high-intensity rehabilitation sessions per week with individualised load targets progressing to reactive strength exercises. Testing will take place at baseline, week 6 and 12. Plantar flexor peak torque will be measured using isokinetic dynamometry, reactive strength will be measured using a drop jump and lower limb biomechanical variables will be measured during a single leg forward hurdle hop test and treadmill running using 3D motion analysis. Follow-up interviews will take place at 6, 12 and 24 months after beginning the program which will assess patient participation in sport and possible re-injury.DiscussionThis is the first study to propose an individualised criteria-based graded rehabilitation program in patients in with chronic mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy where progression is guided by strength and reactive strength outcome measures. This study will provide a comprehensive assessment of plantar flexor strength, reactive strength and lower limb biomechanical variables in running and forward hopping with the VISA-A questionnaire as the primary outcome measure and long term post-intervention follow-up assessments performed.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov (ID: NCT04384874 ). Registered retrospectively on April 23rd 2020.

Dataset Information

Intramuscular stimulation vs sham needling for the treatment of chronic midportion Achilles tendinopathy: A randomized controlled clinical trial.

Publications

Intramuscular stimulation vs sham needling for the treatment of chronic midportion Achilles tendinopathy: A randomized controlled clinical trial.

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