Table 4.
Therapeutic effects of different treatments for chronic tendinopathies.
| Treatment | Efficacy on pain (short-term) |
Efficacy on pain (long-term) |
Effect on recidivation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rest & ice | ++ | - | - |
| NSAIDs | ++ | - to ± | - |
| Passive physiotherapy (US, DTFM, acupuncture…) | ± to + | - | - |
| Orthotic devices | + | ± | - |
| Corticosteroid injections | +++ | - to ± | - |
| Eccentric training | + | +++ | ++ |
| ESWT | ++ | ++ to +++ | + (?) |
| Sclerosant injections | ++ | ++ (?) | ? |
| BTA injections | ++ | + (?) | ? |
| Injections of blood or PRP | ± to + | +++ (?) | ? |
| Topical NO therapy | ++ | +++ (?) | ? |
| Injections of MMP-inhibitor | ++ | ++ (?) | ? |
| Stem-cell or gene therapy | ? | ? | ? |
-: no efficacy
±: little efficacy
+: good efficacy
++: very good efficacy
+++: excellent efficacy
(?): need more trials
?: efficacy unknown