Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39929513›Full record

ArticleBMJ open2025

Torque visuomotor feedback training versus standard eccentric exercise for the management of patellar tendinopathy: protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

Ragul Selvamoorthy, Michail Arvanitidis, Francesco Negro, Patricio Pincheira, David Evans, Eduardo Martinez-Valdes

Abstract readClinical Trial Protocol
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
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

6 authors.

Ragul SelvamoorthySchool of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
Michail ArvanitidisSchool of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
Francesco NegroDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Università degli Studi di Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
Patricio PincheiraSchool of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Southern Queensland, Ipswich, Queensland, Australia.
David EvansSchool of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
Eduardo Martinez-ValdesSchool of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK E.A.MartinezValdes@bham.ac.uk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5790-7514

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionPatellar tendinopathy (PT) rehabilitation programmes frequently incorporate eccentric exercise (EE), where participants have limited control over the range of motion, speed, force production and load. Newly developed training protocols that employ visual feedback with specialised devices offer controlled management of loads, speeds and forces across the full range of motion, potentially providing greater benefits.

objectiveThis protocol outlines a randomised controlled trial designed to compare the effects of a visuomotor torque feedback (TF) protocol with a traditional EE protocol on the rehabilitation of PT over a 6-week period. Our primary objective is to evaluate whether the TF protocol reduces pain and disability more effectively than the EE protocol in individuals with PT. Secondary objectives include analysing structural and architectural changes in the patellar tendon and quadriceps femoris muscles, as well as examining motor unit discharge dynamics in response to EE and TF training. Lastly, we aim to compare these dynamics and structural changes between healthy controls and individuals with PT.

methodsThirty two individuals with PT and twenty six healthy controls will be recruited. The PT group will be subdivided into an EE group, and a TF group, with both groups undergoing a 6-week training programme. The EE group will perform their exercises two times per day, while the TF group will do so 2-3 times a week. In individuals with PT, the primary outcomes will be the Victorian Institute of Sport-Patella (VISA-P) questionnaire to measure disability/physical function, and pain with a Numerical Rating Scale (NRS). To gain insights on mechanisms of action for potential improvements, motor unit discharge characteristics of the quadriceps femoris muscles will be assessed with high-density surface electromyography. Additionally, we will measure structural/architectural changes to the patellar tendon and quadriceps femoris muscles using B-mode ultrasonography and shear-wave elastography. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study was approved by the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Ethical Review Committee from the University of Birmingham (ERN_2257-Jun2024). The results of this study will be disseminated in peer-reviewed journals and at international conferences. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN15821610.

Indexed as

Exercise TherapyFeedback, SensoryPatellar LigamentTendinopathyAdultFemaleHumansMaleQuadriceps MuscleRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicRange of Motion, ArticularTorqueYoung AdultExerciseKneeNEUROPHYSIOLOGYRandomized Controlled TrialSPORTS MEDICINEUltrasound

Identifiers

PMID39929513
PMCPMC11815407

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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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.