Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32818059›Full record

SynthesisBMJ open sport & exercise medicine2020

Effectiveness of isometric exercise in the management of tendinopathy: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised trials.

Christopher Clifford, Dimitris Challoumas, Lorna Paul, Grant Syme, Neal L Millar

Open access · goldAbstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMJ open sport & exercise medicine, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 26 papers, 5 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
26citing papers in PubMed, 5 pooled it
8.2field-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

26 citing papers in PubMed, 5 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 67 citations in OpenAlex.

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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

5 authors at 4 institutions in 2 countries.

Christopher CliffordDepartment of Physiotherapy, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Glasgow, UK.
Dimitris ChalloumasInstitute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
Lorna PaulSchool of Health and Life Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, UK.
Grant SymeDepartment of Physiotherapy, NHS Fife, Kirkcaldy, Fife, UK.
Neal L MillarInstitute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medicine, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.ORCID 0000-0001-9251-9907
Institute of Infection and Immunity · CAGlasgow Caledonian University · GBNHS Fife · GBNHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde · GB

Funding

Medical Research Council MR/R020515/1
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo systematically review and critically appraise the literature on the effectiveness of isometric exercise in comparison with other treatment strategies or no treatment in tendinopathy.

designA systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. DATA SOURCES: Electronic searches of Medline, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, EMBASE and Cochrane were undertaken from inception to May 2020.

methodsOverall quality of each study was determined based on a combined assessment of internal validity, external validity and precision. For each outcome measure, level of evidence was rated based on the system by van Tulder

resultsTen studies were identified and included in the review, including participants with patellar (n=4), rotator cuff (n=2), lateral elbow (n=2), Achilles (n=1) and gluteal (n=1) tendinopathies. Three were of good and seven were of poor overall quality. Based on limited evidence (level 3), isometric exercise was not superior to isotonic exercise for chronic tendinopathy either immediately following treatment or in the short term (≤12 weeks) for any of the investigated outcome measures. Additionally, for acute rotator cuff tendinopathy, isometric exercise appears to be no more effective than ice therapy in the short term (limited evidence; level 3). SUMMARY: Isometric exercise does not appear to be superior to isotonic exercise in the management of chronic tendinopathy. The response to isometric exercise is variable both within and across tendinopathy populations. Isometric exercise can be used as part of a progressive loading programme as it may be beneficial for selected individuals. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42019147179.

Indexed as

physiotherapytendinopathytendon

Identifiers

PMID32818059
PMCPMC7406028
OpenAlexW3047344656

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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.