OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) on patellar tendinopathy. METHOD: This was a single-centre, randomized controlled trial, with 20 male and female subjects ranging from age 23 to 52. Treatment subjects received three to five sessions of ESWT and the control subjects received three to five sessions with the use of an energy-absorbing pad. The effects of the shock wave therapy were measured using the Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment (VISA) test and a vertical jump test. Pre-treatment ultrasound was used to determine which subjects had neovascularization in the area of the patellar tendon. RESULTS: ESWT resulted in a significant improvement in the VISA score for questions 1, 3, and 6; for the VISA total score; and for the vertical jump score. Additionally, anecdotal evidence suggested an overall decrease in pain and an increase in function. CONCLUSIONS: Extracorporeal shock wave therapy appears to be a useful adjunct to the eccentric drop-squat strength protocol in the treatment of chronic patellar tendinopathy. Future studies need to include a larger subject pool, a long-term follow-up, and a reliable objective measure of the microscopic and macroscopic improvement of the patellar tendon.

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