TY - JOUR
T1 - Isometric contractions are more analgesic than isotonic contractions for patellar tendon pain
T2 - An in-season randomized clinical trial
AU - Rio, Ebonie
AU - Van Ark, Mathijs
AU - Docking, Sean
AU - Moseley, G. Lorimer
AU - Kidgell, Dawson
AU - Gaida, Jamie E.
AU - van den Akker-Scheek, Inge
AU - Zwerver, Johannes
AU - Cook, Jill
PY - 2017/5/1
Y1 - 2017/5/1
N2 - Objective: This study aimed to compare the immediate analgesic effects of 2 resistance programs in in-season athletes with patellar tendinopathy (PT). Resistance training is noninvasive, a principle stimulus for corticospinal and neuromuscular adaptation, and may be analgesic. Design: Within-season randomized clinical trial. Data analysis was conducted blinded to group. Setting: Subelite volleyball and basketball competitions. Participants: Twenty jumping athletes aged more than 16 years, participating in games/trainings 3 times per week with clinically diagnosed PT. Interventions: Two quadriceps resistance protocols were compared; (1) isometric leg extension holds at 60 degrees knee flexion (80% of their maximal voluntary isometric contraction) or (2) isotonic leg extension (at 80% of their 8 repetition maximum) 4 times per week for 4 weeks. Time under load and rest between sets was matched between groups. Main Outcome Measures: (1) Pain (0-10 numerical rating score) during single leg decline squat (SLDS), measured preintervention and postintervention sessions. (2) VISA-P, a questionnaire about tendon pain and function, completed at baseline and after 4 weeks. Results: Twenty athletes with PT (18 men, mean 22.5 ± 4.7 years) participated (isotonic n = 10, isometric n = 10). Baseline median SLDS pain was 5/10 for both groups (isotonic range 1-8, isometric range 2-8). Isometric contractions produced significantly greater immediate analgesia (P < 0.002). Week one analgesic response positively correlated with improvements in VISA-P at 4 weeks (r 2 = 0.64). Conclusions: Both protocols appear efficacious for in-season athletes to reduce pain, however, isometric contractions demonstrated significantly greater immediate analgesia throughout the 4-week trial. Greater analgesia may increase the ability to load or perform.
AB - Objective: This study aimed to compare the immediate analgesic effects of 2 resistance programs in in-season athletes with patellar tendinopathy (PT). Resistance training is noninvasive, a principle stimulus for corticospinal and neuromuscular adaptation, and may be analgesic. Design: Within-season randomized clinical trial. Data analysis was conducted blinded to group. Setting: Subelite volleyball and basketball competitions. Participants: Twenty jumping athletes aged more than 16 years, participating in games/trainings 3 times per week with clinically diagnosed PT. Interventions: Two quadriceps resistance protocols were compared; (1) isometric leg extension holds at 60 degrees knee flexion (80% of their maximal voluntary isometric contraction) or (2) isotonic leg extension (at 80% of their 8 repetition maximum) 4 times per week for 4 weeks. Time under load and rest between sets was matched between groups. Main Outcome Measures: (1) Pain (0-10 numerical rating score) during single leg decline squat (SLDS), measured preintervention and postintervention sessions. (2) VISA-P, a questionnaire about tendon pain and function, completed at baseline and after 4 weeks. Results: Twenty athletes with PT (18 men, mean 22.5 ± 4.7 years) participated (isotonic n = 10, isometric n = 10). Baseline median SLDS pain was 5/10 for both groups (isotonic range 1-8, isometric range 2-8). Isometric contractions produced significantly greater immediate analgesia (P < 0.002). Week one analgesic response positively correlated with improvements in VISA-P at 4 weeks (r 2 = 0.64). Conclusions: Both protocols appear efficacious for in-season athletes to reduce pain, however, isometric contractions demonstrated significantly greater immediate analgesia throughout the 4-week trial. Greater analgesia may increase the ability to load or perform.
KW - analgesia
KW - exercise
KW - in-season
KW - isometric
KW - isotonic
KW - patellar tendinopathy
KW - resistance training
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84981492968&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/JSM.0000000000000364
DO - 10.1097/JSM.0000000000000364
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84981492968
SN - 1050-642X
VL - 27
SP - 253
EP - 259
JO - Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine
JF - Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine
IS - 3
ER -