Skip to main content
. 2015 Jun 15;2015(6):CD007402. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD007402.pub3

Ăkermark 1990.

Methods R, DB (double dummy), PC, AC, parallel groups
Spray applied to affected area, and capsules taken 3 times daily for 2 weeks
Assessment at baseline, 3 or 4, 7, and 14 days
Participants Superficial overuse sports injuries (symptom onset 7.4 weeks)
N = 70
M 44, F 18 (completers)
Mean age 30 years
Baseline pain on palpation mostly slight to moderate
Interventions Elmetacin spray (indomethacin 1%), 3 to 5 x 0.5 to 1.5 ml daily + placebo capsules, n = 23
Indomethacin capsules, 3 x 25 mg daily + placebo spray, n = 23
Placebo spray and capsules, n = 24
Rescue medication: paracetamol
Outcomes No pain on palpation (= responder)
Participant improvement: 100 mm VAS (mean data)
Adverse events
Withdrawals
Notes Oxford Quality Score: R2, DB2, W1. Total = 5/5
Risk of bias
Bias Authors' judgement Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias) Low risk "random number code"
Allocation concealment (selection bias) Unclear risk Not described
Blinding (performance bias and detection bias) 
 All outcomes Low risk "identical in appearance"
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) 
 All outcomes Low risk Responder analysis, < 5% withdrawals
Size High risk < 50 participants per treatment group

AC: active control; BOCF: baseline observation carried forward; DB: double‐blind; DHEP: diclofenac hydroxyethylpyrrolidine, or diclofenac epolamine; F: female; HCl: hydrochloride; hep: heparin; LOCF: last observation carried forward; M: male; N: number of participants in study; n: number of participants in treatment arm; PC: placebo control; PGE: Participant Global Evaluation; PI: pain intensity; R: randomised; VAS: visual analogue scale; W: withdrawals.