Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33444210›Full record

SynthesisBMJ open2020

Load progression criteria in exercise programmes in lower limb tendinopathy: a systematic review.

Adrian Escriche-Escuder, Jose Casaña, Antonio I Cuesta-Vargas

Open access · goldAbstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMJ open, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
9citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
2.1field-weighted citation impact, top 14% 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

9 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 26 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Trial
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Achilles tendinopathy.Nature reviews. Disease primers · 2025
    Review
  7. Article
  8. Review
  9. Article
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

3 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.

Adrian Escriche-EscuderDepartment of Physiotherapy, University of Málaga, Malaga, Spain.ORCID 0000-0003-4402-6483
Jose CasañaDepartment of Physiotherapy, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
Antonio I Cuesta-VargasDepartment of Physiotherapy, University of Málaga, Malaga, Spain acuesta@uma.es.ORCID 0000-0002-8880-4315
Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga · ESQueensland University of Technology · AUUniversitat de València · ES

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveThe objective of this study is to summarise and analyse the current literature about what progression criteria are applied in loading exercise programmes in lower limb tendinopathies and their evidence and effectiveness.

designSystematic review.

methodsPubMed, Embase, Scopus and PED

resultsThirty studies that described progression criteria were included. Six types of criteria grouped in two categories were identified and included in a new classification proposal: pain as a primary criterion (evoking and avoid-pain based), and pain and symptom control as a secondary criterion (conditioning stages, fatigue-based, subjective perception and temporary linear increase). Most of the studies applied a pain-based criterion. Criteria based on conditioning stages were also commonly applied. Other criteria such as fatigue, a temporary linear increase, or the subjective perception of the patient's abilities were occasionally applied.

conclusionsThere is a predominant use of pain-based criteria, but the utilisation of these criteria is not supported by strong evidence. This review evidences the need for studies that compare the same exercise programme using different progression criteria. A new classification of the existing progression criteria is proposed based on the use of pain as the primary or secondary criterion. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42018110997.

Indexed as

Achilles TendonTendinopathyExerciseExercise TherapyHumansLower ExtremityPainmusculoskeletal disorderspain managementrehabilitation medicinesports medicine

Identifiers

PMID33444210
PMCPMC7678382
OpenAlexW3099115599

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
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.