Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32003647›Full record

Trial reportSports health

Eccentric and Isometric Exercises in Achilles Tendinopathy Evaluated by the VISA-A Score and Shear Wave Elastography.

Matthias Gatz, Marcel Betsch, Timm Dirrichs, Simone Schrading, Markus Tingart, Roman Michalik, Valentin Quack

Open access · greenAbstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in Sports health. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 31 papers, 6 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
31citing papers in PubMed, 6 pooled it
6.8field-weighted citation impact, top 2% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

31 citing papers in PubMed, 6 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 58 citations in OpenAlex.

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  20. Achilles Tendon Repair after Tenorraphy Imaging and the Doughnut Metaphor.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2023
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Matthias GatzDepartment of Orthopedics, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany.
Marcel BetschDepartment of Orthopedics, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany.
Timm DirrichsDepartment of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany.
Simone SchradingDepartment of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany.
Markus TingartDepartment of Orthopedics, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany.
Roman MichalikDepartment of Orthopedics, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany.
Valentin QuackDepartment of Orthopedics, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany.
RWTH Aachen University · DE

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundApart from eccentric exercises (EE), isometric exercises (ISO) might be a treatment option for Achilles tendinopathy. Shear wave elastography (SWE) provides information for diagnosis and for monitoring tissue elasticity, which is altered in symptomatic tendons. HYPOTHESIS: Isometric exercises will have a beneficial effect on patients' outcome scores. Based on SWE, insertional and midportion tendon parts will differ in their elastic properties according to current symptoms. STUDY

designRandomized clinical trial. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 2.

methodsGroup 1 (EE; n = 20; 12 males, 8 females; mean age, 52 ± 8.98 years) and group 2 (EE + ISO; n = 22; 15 males, 7 females; mean age, 47 ± 15.11 years) performed exercises for 3 months. Measurement points were before exercises were initiated as well as after 1 and 3 months using the Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment-Achilles (VISA-A) score, American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society score, and SWE (insertion and midportion).

resultsBoth groups improved significantly, but there were no significant interindividual differences (VISA-A;

conclusionIsometric exercises do not have additional benefit when combined with eccentric exercises, as assessed over a 3-month intervention period. SWE is able to distinguish between insertional and midportion tendon parts in a symptomatic and asymptomatic state. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The present study shows no additional effect of ISO when added to baseline EE in treating Achilles tendinopathy. Different elastic properties of the insertional and midportion tendon have to be taken into consideration when rating a tendon as pathologic.

Indexed as

Elasticity Imaging TechniquesSeverity of Illness IndexAchilles TendonAdultExercise TherapyFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedProspective StudiesTendinopathyTreatment OutcomeAchilles tendinopathyeccentric exercisesisometric exercisesmuscleshear wave elastographytendon

Identifiers

PMID32003647
PMCPMC7787566
OpenAlexW3004076388

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.