AIM: To investigate the curative effect of eccentric muscle exercises on pain in patients with patellar tendon enthesiopathy and compare with frequently used physiotherapy. METHODS: Totally 29 patients with patellar tendon enthesiopathy, who were treated at the Huashan Affiliated Hospital, Fudan University from October 2004 to August 2005, were enrolled and they were assigned randomly into 2 groups: (1) physical therapy group (n = 13): microwave plus laser therapy, lukewarm of microwave (100 W output power), 15 minutes every time per day. Semiconductor laser therapeutic device, it was better to have comfortable feeling at local part, 15 minutes every time per day. (2) Eccentric exercises group (n = 16): They were treated with self-made eccentric training movement (standing with single leg straight, and squatted slowly and steadily in endurable ache range at 90 degrees, and then held baluster, with over-weight of 0 to 15 kg at lower limb of double side, and then 'standing slowly), twice per day, 15 minutes every time. Before treatment and 12 weeks after treatment, Australian Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment (VISA) score (0 to 100, the higher the score, the lower the symptom was, 100 as painless) and visual analogue scale (VAS) (0 to 100, the higher the score, the severer the symptom was, 100 as exquisite pain) were used to assess pain degree. RESULTS: Totally 29 cases were involved in the result analysis. (1) VISA score: There was insignificant difference before and after treatment in the physical therapy group (p > 0.05). It was higher dramatically after treatment than that before treatment in the eccentric exercises group (68.5 +/- 15.8, 38.3 +/- 13.2, p < 0.05). The difference value in the eccentric exercises group was larger than that of the physical therapy group before and after treatment (30.2 +/- 6.5, 7.4 +/- 2.7, p < 0.05). (2) VAS score. There was insignificant difference before and after treatment in the physical therapy group (p > 0.05). It was lower dramatically after treatment than that before treatment in the eccentric exercises group (20.1 +/- 12.3, 52.9 +/- 9.7, p < 0.05). The difference value in the eccentric exercises group was larger than that of the physical therapy group before and after treatment (32.4 +/- 5.3, 9.3 +/- 4.9, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The eccentric muscle exercises can obviously relieve the pain of patients with patellar tendon enthesiopathy, and its effect is better than that of traditional physiotherapy.

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