AIM: To assess whether the use of a night splint is of added benefit on functional outcome in treating chronic midportion Achilles tendinopathy. METHODS: This was a single-blind, prospective, single centre, randomised controlled trial set in the Sports Medical Department, The Hague Medical Centre, The Netherlands. Inclusion criteria were: age 18-70 years, active participation in sports, and tendon pain localised at 2-7 cm from distal insertion. Exclusion criteria were: insertional disorders, partial or complete ruptures, or systemic illness. 70 tendons were included and randomised into one of two treatment groups: eccentric exercises with a night splint (night splint group, n = 36) or eccentric exercises only (eccentric group, n = 34). INTERVENTIONS: Both groups completed a 12-week heavy-load eccentric training programme. One group received a night splint in addition to eccentric exercises. At baseline and follow-up at 12 weeks, patient satisfaction, Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment-Achilles questionnaire (VISA-A) score and reported compliance were recorded by a single-blind trained researcher who was blinded to the treatment. RESULTS: After 12 weeks, patient satisfaction in the eccentric group was 63% compared with 48% in the night splint group. The VISA-A score significantly improved in both groups; in the eccentric group from 50.1 to 68.8 (p = 0.001) and in the night splint group from 49.4 to 67.0 (p<0.001). There was no significant difference between the two groups in VISA-A score (p = 0.815) and patient satisfaction (p = 0.261). CONCLUSION: A night splint is not beneficial in addition to eccentric exercises in the treatment of chronic midportion Achilles tendinopathy.
RCT Entities:
AIM: To assess whether the use of a night splint is of added benefit on functional outcome in treating chronic midportion Achilles tendinopathy. METHODS: This was a single-blind, prospective, single centre, randomised controlled trial set in the Sports Medical Department, The Hague Medical Centre, The Netherlands. Inclusion criteria were: age 18-70 years, active participation in sports, and tendon pain localised at 2-7 cm from distal insertion. Exclusion criteria were: insertional disorders, partial or complete ruptures, or systemic illness. 70 tendons were included and randomised into one of two treatment groups: eccentric exercises with a night splint (night splint group, n = 36) or eccentric exercises only (eccentric group, n = 34). INTERVENTIONS: Both groups completed a 12-week heavy-load eccentric training programme. One group received a night splint in addition to eccentric exercises. At baseline and follow-up at 12 weeks, patient satisfaction, Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment-Achilles questionnaire (VISA-A) score and reported compliance were recorded by a single-blind trained researcher who was blinded to the treatment. RESULTS: After 12 weeks, patient satisfaction in the eccentric group was 63% compared with 48% in the night splint group. The VISA-A score significantly improved in both groups; in the eccentric group from 50.1 to 68.8 (p = 0.001) and in the night splint group from 49.4 to 67.0 (p<0.001). There was no significant difference between the two groups in VISA-A score (p = 0.815) and patient satisfaction (p = 0.261). CONCLUSION: A night splint is not beneficial in addition to eccentric exercises in the treatment of chronic midportion Achilles tendinopathy.
Authors: J M Robinson; J L Cook; C Purdam; P J Visentini; J Ross; N Maffulli; J E Taunton; K M Khan Journal: Br J Sports Med Date: 2001-10 Impact factor: 13.800
Authors: Margaret Kedia; Michael Williams; Lisa Jain; Marie Barron; Nick Bird; Brian Blackwell; David R Richardson; Susan Ishikawa; G Andrew Murphy Journal: Int J Sports Phys Ther Date: 2014-08
Authors: Shannon E Munteanu; Karl B Landorf; Hylton B Menz; Jill L Cook; Tania Pizzari; Lisa A Scott Journal: J Foot Ankle Res Date: 2009-10-24 Impact factor: 2.303