SPORTS
MEDICINE REHABILITATION SECTIONTHE
EFFECTIVENESS OF PHYSIOTHERAPY INTERVENTION IN THE TREATMENT OF
TENDINOPATHY. REVIEW
Kouppa
Alina, Aftosmidis Dimitis, Porfuriadou Anthi
Physiotherapy
Department TEI
Thessaloniki, GreeceBackgraound.
Tendinopathy is a degenerative not an inflammatory conndition of
tendons with a lot of consequent unpleasant symptoms, however it is
essential this symptoms be clarified by those of tendinitis. The
effectivness of physiotherapy methods for the treatment of
tendinopathy, as a selection of the most suitable has not been defined.
Object. The effectiveness of physiotherapy intervention in
rehabilitation of athletes that suffers from tendinopathies. Study
design. Systematic review.
Methods.
A computerised literature search
of the entire Medline and PEDRO (Physiotherapy Evidence Database) for
the physiotherapy approach of tendinopathy. Using the terms
tendinopathy, physiotherapy, rehabilitation, we found forty two (42)
studies. Thirteen (13) clinical trials (663 individuals) and two (2)
reviews were included, in that were investigated and analyzed the
physiotherapy methods. These were: shock wave therapy (SWΤ) 4
(n=145), low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) 2 (n=39), low-level
laser therapy (LLLT) 2 (n=72), electrotherapy 1 (n=48), therapeutic
massage 1 (n=27), thermotherapy 2 (n=47), eccentric exercise 4 (n=184),
concentric exercise 1 (n=49) and night splint 2 (n=48).
Results.
The
analysis show that laser therapy reduces the pain at 95%, increases the
strength and the efficacy, eccentric exercise also reduces the pain at
60% and the combination of two methods has likewise spectacular
outcomes (reduction of pain at 60%, increase of strength at 45% ) .
Conclusion.
The physiotherapy methods have efficient effect in the symptoms of
tendinopathy. Some more and some less. Certainly we should
differentiate the physiotherapy approach in tendinopathy versus
tendinitis. There is necessity of new studies that will quantify the
application of physiotherapy methods.
Keywords:
tendinopathy, physiotherapy, rehabilitation. 
