Study Overview
Official Title:
Effect of Adding Ultrasound-guided Percutaneous Neuromodulation to Conventional Treatment of Ultrasound-guided Percutaneous Electrolysis and Eccentric Exercises in Patients With Patellar Tendinopathy. Randomized Clinical Trial
Status:
COMPLETED
Status Verified Date:
2025-11
Last Known Status:
None
Delayed Posting:
No
If Stopped, Why?:
Not Stopped
Has Expanded Access:
False
If Expanded Access, NCT#:
N/A
Has Expanded Access, NCT# Status:
N/A
Brief Summary:
Patellar tendinopathy, or "jumper's knee," is a prevalent condition involving patellar tendon degeneration due to structural overuse, common among athletes, particularly males over 18 in sports like volleyball, basketball, or football. It causes tendon thickening, collagen disorganization, fibroblast proliferation, neovascularization, and neurogenesis. Symptoms include anterior knee pain that worsens with activity, tenderness at the proximal tendon insertion, and functional limitations. Diagnosis often utilizes ultrasound imaging. While surgical treatment is reserved for severe cases, non-surgical options prioritize physiotherapy-especially eccentric exercises and newer invasive techniques like percutaneous electrolysis and neuromodulation. However, there is still no research on the effects when combining these three treatment options.
Detailed Description:
Patellar tendinopathy, also known as "jumper's knee," is one of the most common conditions affecting the patellar tendon. It involves degeneration of the tendon, primarily due to excessive structural overuse. This condition leads to various changes within the tissue, including tendon thickening, collagen fiber degeneration and disorganization, disruption in the parallel alignment of healthy collagen fibers, fibroblast proliferation with incomplete injury repair, neovascularization, and neurogenesis. Various studies indicate a high prevalence of patellar tendinopathy among athletes and the general population, with rates of 0.1% and 18.3%, respectively. The condition is more frequently observed in males over 18 who participate in sports such as volleyball, basketball, or football.
Clinical symptoms of patellar tendinopathy include anterior knee pain that worsens with exercise, post-exercise, or during prolonged knee flexion; localized pain and tenderness at the proximal tendon insertion; and functional impairment in actions such as squatting with ankle plantar flexion.There are different diagnostic methods, both medical and physiotherapeutic, to determine the presence of patellar tendinopathy. In this context, imaging evaluations through ultrasound show potential as diagnostic and follow-up tool.
Only in advanced stages of tendon degeneration is surgical treatment considered, which may involve open surgery or arthroscopy. Among non-surgical treatments for patellar tendinopathy, medical options focus on platelet-rich plasma injections, hyaluronic acid, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or corticosteroids. However, conservative physiotherapy is typically the first choice, generally based on eccentric exercises, and invasive techniques such as percutaneous electrolysis or percutaneous neuromodulation.
Current literature provides evidence supporting percutaneous electrolysis, percutaneous neuromodulation and eccentric exercises as therapeutic methods for tendinopathies. However, there is presently no evidence or studies regarding the combination of these three techniques.
Study Oversight
Has Oversight DMC:
True
Is a FDA Regulated Drug?:
False
Is a FDA Regulated Device?:
False
Is an Unapproved Device?:
None
Is a PPSD?:
None
Is a US Export?:
None
Is an FDA AA801 Violation?: