Terminating Corticosteroid Injection in Tendinopathy? Hasta la Vista, Baby.

SYNOPSIS: Two recent randomized-controlled trials showed promising results of local corticosteroid injections combined with exercise therapy for Achilles tendinopathy and plantar fasciopathy. Should clinicians go back to using corticosteroid injections to treat tendinopathy? Are corticosteroids back (baby)? In this viewpoint we critically appraise the new evidence and humbly share our clinical reasoning when advising athletes about corticosteroid injections in practice. Our goal is to help clinicians decide what to do and what to recommend to patients. We prioritize the risk for higher recurrence rates and tendon rupture when weighing the reasonable treatment options for tendinopathy, and recommend against using corticosteroid injections. The best systematic review evidence shows that local corticosteroid injections are not effective for tendinopathies after the first few weeks, and produce worse long-term outcomes compared to other treatments. For now, we consider corticosteroid injections remain terminated. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2023;53(11):1-4. Epub: 28 July 2023. doi:10.2519/jospt.2023.11875.

MRI appearance does not change in the first 7 days after acute hamstring injury-a prospective study.

BACKGROUND: The optimal timing of MRI following acute hamstring injury is not known and is mainly based on expert opinions. AIMS: To describe the day-to-day changes in the extent of oedema and investigate the optimal timing for detection of fibre disruption on MRI following acute hamstring injuries. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, descriptive study. METHODS: We performed standardised MRI (1.5T) ≤1 day after injury in male athletes with acute hamstring injury. If initial MRI revealed positive signs of injury (increased signal intensity on fluid sensitive sequences), consecutive MRIs were obtained daily throughout the subsequent week (ie, 7 times). The MRI parameters (day 1-7) were scored by a single radiologist using a standardised scoring form. The day-to-day changes in the extent of oedema (distance from tuber, craniocaudal length, mediolateral width and anteroposterior depth) and the presence and extent of fibre disruption (tear) were assessed with descriptive statistics and repeated measures using analysis of variance of log-transformed data. The overall main effect for time was reported with a significance level set at p<0.05. RESULTS: 13 out of 132 male athletes assessed for eligibility between January 2014 and December 2015 were included. 1 dropped out, while 12 (31 years, range 20-49) completed the study; 11 had 7 MRI scans each and one had 5 MRI scans performed. There were no significant day-to-day changes for any of the extent of oedema measures (p values ranging from 0.12 to 0.81). Fibre disruption (tear), present in 5 of the athletes, was detectable from day 1, with small and insignificant day-to-day changes (p values ranging from 0.45 to 0.95). CONCLUSIONS: We observed insignificant day-to-day changes in the extent of oedema throughout the first week following acute hamstring injury. Fibre disruption (tear) was detectable from the first day after injury. These findings indicate that MRI can be performed on any day during the first week following an acute (hamstring) muscle injury.

Hamstring Reinjuries Occur at the Same Location and Early After Return to Sport: A Descriptive Study of MRI-Confirmed Reinjuries.

BACKGROUND: Despite relatively high reinjury rates after acute hamstring injuries, there is a lack of detailed knowledge about where and when hamstring reinjuries occur, and studies including imaging-confirmed reinjuries are scarce. PURPOSE: To investigate the location, radiological severity, and timing of reinjuries on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) compared with the index injury. STUDY DESIGN: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. METHODS: A MRI scan was obtained ≤5 days after an acute hamstring index injury in 180 athletes, and time to return to sport (RTS) was registered. Athletes with an MRI-confirmed reinjury in the same leg ≤365 days after RTS were included. Categorical grading and standardized MRI parameters of the index injury and reinjury were scored by a single radiologist (with excellent intraobserver reliability). To determine the location of the reinjury, axial and coronal views of the index injury and reinjury were directly compared on proton density-weighted fat-suppressed images. RESULTS: In the 19 athletes included with reinjury, 79% of these reinjuries occurred in the same location within the muscle as the index injury. The median time to RTS after the index injury was 19 days (range, 5-37 days; interquartile range [IQR], 15 days). The median time between the index injury and reinjury was 60 days (range, 20-316 days; IQR, 131 days) and the median time between RTS after the index injury and the reinjury was 24 days (range, 4-311 days; IQR, 140 days). More than 50% of reinjuries occurred within 25 days (4 weeks) after RTS from the index injury and 50% occurred within 50 days after the index injury. All reinjuries with more severe radiological grading occurred in the same location as the index injury. CONCLUSION: The majority of the hamstring reinjuries occurred in the same location as the index injury, early after RTS and with a radiologically greater extent, suggesting incomplete biological and/or functional healing of the index injury. Specific exercise programs focusing on reinjury prevention initiated after RTS from the index injury are highly recommended.

Patellofemoral pain.

Patellofemoral pain refers to pain behind or around the patella (also known as patellofemoral pain syndrome, anterior knee pain, runner's knee, and, formerly, chondromalacia patellae). Patellofemoral pain is common, accounting for 11-17% of all knee pain presentations to general practice.(1 2) While it typically occurs in physically active people aged <40 years, it also affects people of all activity levels and ages.(1 2) Patellofemoral pain can be diagnosed in the clinic, and evidence based treatments can reduce pain and improve function, allowing patients to maintain a physically active lifestyle.

Can we predict which patients with patellofemoral pain are more likely to benefit from exercise therapy? A secondary exploratory analysis of a randomized controlled trial.

STUDY DESIGN: Secondary exploratory analysis of a randomized controlled trial comparing supervised exercise therapy to usual care in patients with patellofemoral pain (PFP). OBJECTIVE: To explore which patients with PFP are more likely to benefit from exercise therapy. BACKGROUND: Patellofemoral pain is a common condition for which exercise therapy is effective in reducing pain and improving function. However, not all patients benefit from exercise therapy. METHODS: The present study explored patient characteristics that might interact with treatment effects of PFP in 131 patients treated with usual care or exercise therapy. These characteristics were tested for interaction with treatment in a regression analysis. The primary outcomes were function and pain on activity at a 3-month follow-up. RESULTS: None of the tested variables had a significant interaction with treatment. A positive trend was seen for females with PFP: they were more likely to report higher function scores with exercise therapy than with usual care compared to males with PFP (ß = 12.1; 95% confidence interval: 0.23, 24.0; P = .05). A positive trend was seen for patients with a longer duration of complaints (greater than 6 months); they were more likely to report higher function scores and to have less pain on activity with exercise therapy than with usual care compared to those with a shorter duration of complaints (ß = 12.3; 95% confidence interval: -0.08, 24.7; P = .05 and ß = -1.74; 95% confidence interval: -3.90, 0.43; P = .12, respectively). CONCLUSION: Two factors, sex and duration of complaints, may have a predictive value for response to exercise therapy at 3-month follow-up. Due to the exploratory design of the study, future research should confirm this tendency.

Exercise for treating patellofemoral pain syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is a common knee problem, which particularly affects adolescents and young adults. PFPS, which is characterised by retropatellar (behind the kneecap) or peripatellar (around the kneecap) pain, is often referred to as anterior knee pain. The pain mostly occurs when load is put on the knee extensor mechanism when climbing stairs, squatting, running, cycling or sitting with flexed knees. Exercise therapy is often prescribed for this condition. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects (benefits and harms) of exercise therapy aimed at reducing knee pain and improving knee function for people with patellofemoral pain syndrome. SEARCH METHODS: We searched the Cochrane Bone, Joint and Muscle Trauma Group Specialised Register (May 2014), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (2014, Issue 4), MEDLINE (1946 to May 2014), EMBASE (1980 to 2014 Week 20), PEDro (to June 2014), CINAHL (1982 to May 2014) and AMED (1985 to May 2014), trial registers (to June 2014) and conference abstracts. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised and quasi-randomised trials evaluating the effect of exercise therapy on pain, function and recovery in adolescents and adults with patellofemoral pain syndrome. We included comparisons of exercise therapy versus control (e.g. no treatment) or versus another non-surgical therapy; or of different exercises or exercise programmes. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors independently selected trials based on pre-defined inclusion criteria, extracted data and assessed risk of bias. Where appropriate, we pooled data using either fixed-effect or random-effects methods. We selected the following seven outcomes for summarising the available evidence: pain during activity (short-term: ≤ 3 months); usual pain (short-term); pain during activity (long-term: > 3 months); usual pain (long-term); functional ability (short-term); functional ability (long-term); and recovery (long-term). MAIN RESULTS: In total, 31 heterogeneous trials including 1690 participants with patellofemoral pain are included in this review. There was considerable between-study variation in patient characteristics (e.g. activity level) and diagnostic criteria for study inclusion (e.g. minimum duration of symptoms) and exercise therapy. Eight trials, six of which were quasi-randomised, were at high risk of selection bias. We assessed most trials as being at high risk of performance bias and detection bias, which resulted from lack of blinding.The included studies, some of which contributed to more than one comparison, provided evidence for the following comparisons: exercise therapy versus control (10 trials); exercise therapy versus other conservative interventions (e.g. taping; eight trials evaluating different interventions); and different exercises or exercise programmes. The latter group comprised: supervised versus home exercises (two trials); closed kinetic chain (KC) versus open KC exercises (four trials); variants of closed KC exercises (two trials making different comparisons); other comparisons of other types of KC or miscellaneous exercises (five trials evaluating different interventions); hip and knee versus knee exercises (seven trials); hip versus knee exercises (two studies); and high- versus low-intensity exercises (one study). There were no trials testing exercise medium (land versus water) or duration of exercises. Where available, the evidence for each of seven main outcomes for all comparisons was of very low quality, generally due to serious flaws in design and small numbers of participants. This means that we are very unsure about the estimates. The evidence for the two largest comparisons is summarised here. Exercise versus control. Pooled data from five studies (375 participants) for pain during activity (short-term) favoured exercise therapy: mean difference (MD) -1.46, 95% confidence interval (CI) -2.39 to -0.54. The CI included the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) of 1.3 (scale 0 to 10), indicating the possibility of a clinically important reduction in pain. The same finding applied for usual pain (short-term; two studies, 41 participants), pain during activity (long-term; two studies, 180 participants) and usual pain (long-term; one study, 94 participants). Pooled data from seven studies (483 participants) for functional ability (short-term) also favoured exercise therapy; standardised mean difference (SMD) 1.10, 95% CI 0.58 to 1.63. Re-expressed in terms of the Anterior Knee Pain Score (AKPS; 0 to 100), this result (estimated MD 12.21 higher, 95% CI 6.44 to 18.09 higher) included the MCID of 10.0, indicating the possibility of a clinically important improvement in function. The same finding applied for functional ability (long-term; three studies, 274 participants). Pooled data (two studies, 166 participants) indicated that, based on the 'recovery' of 250 per 1000 in the control group, 88 more (95% CI 2 fewer to 210 more) participants per 1000 recovered in the long term (12 months) as a result of exercise therapy. Hip plus knee versus knee exercises. Pooled data from three studies (104 participants) for pain during activity (short-term) favoured hip and knee exercise: MD -2.20, 95% CI -3.80 to -0.60; the CI included a clinically important effect. The same applied for usual pain (short-term; two studies, 46 participants). One study (49 participants) found a clinically important reduction in pain during activity (long-term) for hip and knee exercise. Although tending to favour hip and knee exercises, the evidence for functional ability (short-term; four studies, 174 participants; and long-term; two studies, 78 participants) and recovery (one study, 29 participants) did not show that either approach was superior. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: This review has found very low quality but consistent evidence that exercise therapy for PFPS may result in clinically important reduction in pain and improvement in functional ability, as well as enhancing long-term recovery. However, there is insufficient evidence to determine the best form of exercise therapy and it is unknown whether this result would apply to all people with PFPS. There is some very low quality evidence that hip plus knee exercises may be more effective in reducing pain than knee exercise alone.Further randomised trials are warranted but in order to optimise research effort and engender the large multicentre randomised trials that are required to inform practice, these should be preceded by research that aims to identify priority questions and attain agreement and, where practical, standardisation regarding diagnostic criteria and measurement of outcome.

Prognostic factors for patellofemoral pain: a multicentre observational analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Describe proportions of individuals with patellofemoral pain (PFP) with an unfavourable recovery over 12 months; identify clinical predictors of poor recovery at 3 and 12 months; and determine baseline values of predictors that identify those with poor 12-month prognosis. METHODS: An observational analysis utilised data from 310 individuals with PFP enrolled in two randomised clinical trials. Thirteen baseline variables (participant, PFP, study characteristics) were investigated for their prognostic ability. Pain, function and global recovery were measured at 3 and 12 months. Multivariate backward stepwise regression analyses (treatment-adjusted, p<0.10) were performed for each follow-up measure. Receiver operator characteristic curves identified cut-points associated with unfavourable recovery at 12 months. RESULTS: 55% and 40% of participants had an unfavourable recovery at 3 and 12 months, respectively. Longer baseline pain duration was significantly associated with poor 3-month and 12-month recovery on measures of pain severity (ß 11.36 to 24.94), Anterior Knee Pain (AKP) Scale (-4.44 to -11.33) and global recovery (OR: 2.32 to 6.11). Greater baseline pain severity and lower AKP Scale score were significantly associated with poor recovery on multiple measures (p<0.05). Baseline duration >2 months and AKP Scale score <70/100 were associated with unfavourable 12-month recovery. CONCLUSIONS: A substantial number of individuals with PFP have an unfavourable recovery over 12 months, irrespective of intervention. Knee pain duration >2 months is the most consistent prognostic indicator, followed by AKP Scale score <70. Sports medicine practitioners should utilise interventions with known efficacy in reducing PFP, and promote early intervention to maximise prognosis. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian study: Australian Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN012605000463673), ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT00118521); Dutch study: International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Number Register (ISRCTN83938749).

The additional effect of orthotic devices on exercise therapy for patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome: a systematic review.

The aim of the study is to determine "the additional effect of... function" for patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS). The additional effect of orthotic devices over exercise therapy on pain and function. A systematic literature search was conducted in MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, Cochrane and PEDro. Randomised controlled trials and controlled clinical trials of patients diagnosed with PFPS evaluating a clinically relevant outcome were included. Treatment had to include exercise therapy combined with orthotics, compared with an identical exercise programme with or without sham orthotics. Data were summarised using a best evidence synthesis. Eight trials fulfilled the inclusion criteria, of which three had a low risk of bias. There is moderate evidence for no additive effectiveness of knee braces to exercise therapy on pain (effect sizes (ES) varied from -0.14 to 0.04) and conflicting evidence on function (ES -0.33). There is moderate evidence for no difference between knee braces and exercise therapy versus placebo knee braces and exercise therapy on pain and function (ES -0.1-0.10). More studies of high methodological quality are needed to draw definitive conclusions.

[Patellofemoral pain: physiotherapy and surgery]. / Patellofemorale pijn: oefentherapie en chirurgie.

Patellofemoral pain is common and difficult to treat. The consensus is that a non-surgical treatment is the preferred first choice. Watchful waiting is advocated and the value of physiotherapy as such is unclear. Recent research published in the Netherlands shows that supervised and protocolized intensive physiotherapy is more effective for treating patellofemoral pain syndrome than supervised waiting. In selected patients with recurrent patella dislocation or severe pain caused by radiologically proven maltracking, surgical intervention is indicated.

Knee complaints seen in general practice: active sport participants versus non-sport participants.

BACKGROUND: Since knee complaints are common among athletes and are frequently presented in general practice, it is of interest to investigate the type of knee complaints represented in general practice of athletes in comparison with those of non-athletes. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the differences in type of knee complaints between sport participants, in this study defined as athletes, and non-sport participants, defined as non-athletes, presenting in general practice. Further, differences in the initial policy of the GP, medical consumption, and outcome at one-year follow-up were also investigated. METHODS: Patients consulting their GP for a new episode of knee complaints were invited to participate in this prospective cohort study. From the total HONEUR knee cohort population (n = 1068) we extracted patients who were athletes (n = 421) or non-athletes (n = 388). RESULTS: The results showed that acute distortions of the knee were significantly more diagnosed in athletes than in non-athletes (p = 0.04). Further, more athletes were advised by their GP to 'go easy on the knee' than the non-athletes (p < 0.01), but no differences were found in number of referrals and medication prescribed by the GP. The medical consumption was significantly higher among athletes; however, no significant differences were found between the two groups for recovery at one-year follow-up. CONCLUSION: There are no major differences in the diagnosis and prognosis of knee complaints between athletes and non-athletes presented to the GP. This implies that there are no indications for different treatment strategies applied in both groups. However, athletes are more often advised to 'go easy on the knee' and to rest than non-athletes. Further, there is a trend towards increased medical consumption among athletes while functional disability and pain are lower than among the non-athletes.

The PEX study - Exercise therapy for patellofemoral pain syndrome: design of a randomized clinical trial in general practice and sports medicine [ISRCTN83938749].

BACKGROUND: Patellofemoral complaints are frequently seen in younger and active patients. Clinical strategy is usually based on decreasing provoking activities as sports and demanding knee activities during work and leisure and reassuring the patient on the presumed good outcome. Exercise therapy is also often prescribed although evidence on effectiveness is lacking. The objective of this article is to present the design of a randomized clinical trial that examines the outcome of exercise therapy supervised by a physical therapist versus a clinically accepted "wait and see" approach (information and advice about the complaints only). The research will address to both effectiveness and cost effectiveness of supervised exercise therapy in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS). METHODS/DESIGN: 136 patients (adolescents and young adults) with patellofemoral pain syndrome are recruited in general practices and sport medicine centers. They will be randomly allocated receiving either 3 months of exercise therapy (or usual care. The primary outcome measures are pain, knee function and perception of recovery after 3 months and 12 months of follow up and will be measured by self reporting. Measurements will take place at baseline, 6 weeks, and 3 monthly until 1 year after inclusion in the study. Secondary outcome measurements include an economic evaluation.A cost-utility analysis will be performed that expresses health improvements in Quality Adjusted Life Years (QALYs) and incorporates direct medical costs and productivity costs DISCUSSION: This study has been designed after reviewing the literature on exercise therapy for patellofemoral pain syndrome. It was concluded that to merit the effect of exercise therapy a trial based on correct methodological concept needed to be executed. The PEX study is a randomized clinical trial where exercise therapy is compared to usual care. This trial started in April 2005 and will finish in June 2007. The first results will be available around December 2007.

Endoscopic evaluation and treatment of groin pain in the athlete.

BACKGROUND: Chronic groin pain in athletes forms a major diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. HYPOTHESIS: Evaluate and treat undiagnosed groin pain in the athlete by endoscopy. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. METHODS: Athletes who were referred to the Ikazia Hospital with undiagnosed chronic groin pain between January 1998 and August 2001 were included. Radiography, bone scintigraphy, and ultrasonography were performed. In 14 athletes, groin pain remained undiagnosed. Ten patients complained of unilateral, 4 of bilateral groin pain. Patients underwent a transabdominal or extraperitoneal diagnostic endoscopy. RESULTS: All patients were operated ambulatory without significant difficulties. Pathology found by endoscopy was hernia inguinalis (n = 9), hernia femoralis (n = 4), preperitoneal lipoma (n = 3), and hernia obturatoria (n = 1). Only once was there no pathology. In 17 groins, a Prolene mesh was placed preperitoneally. Thirteen patients (93%) returned to full activity within 3 months of surgery. One year after surgery, one patient had minor symptoms and one patient had persistent symptoms. All other patients had no complaints. CONCLUSIONS: An occult hernia should be high on the list of differential diagnoses in undiagnosed chronic groin pain in athletes. Operative treatment can return the patient to his sport within 3 months.