Shock wave therapy for patellar tendinitis with or without a coordinated fascial center-point treatment

Clinical Eficacy of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy on Patellar Tendon Combined With Center of Coordination Point in the Fascial Manipulation for Patellar Tendinitis:A Randomized Controlled Trial.

This trial will test whether adding a coordinated fascial center-point shock wave treatment to standard patellar tendon shock wave therapy reduces pain and improves knee function in adults aged 18–45 with patellar tendinitis.

Quick facts

• Phase: Not applicable
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 38 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years to 45 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University (Academic / other)
• Locations: 2 sites (Guangzhou, Guangdong and 1 other locations)
• Trial ID: NCT07401758 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This is a randomized controlled trial that assigns eligible adults with patellar tendinitis to receive either extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) to the patellar tendon alone or ESWT to the patellar tendon combined with a coordinated fascial center-point application. Randomization was done using a random number table and treatments were delivered by an experienced rehabilitation therapist. Outcomes measured at baseline and the day after completing treatment include pain (Visual Analogue Scale), knee function (Lysholm Knee Scoring System), and patellar tendon thickness by imaging. The protocol focuses on short-term changes immediately after the treatment course.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults 18–45 years old with a clinical diagnosis of patellar tendinitis, baseline VAS between 3 and 7, no other orthopedic or neurologic conditions affecting the lower limb, and willingness to sign consent and attend follow-up are ideal candidates.

Not a fit: Patients with recent knee surgery, other causes of knee pain or systemic joint disease, those outside the age or pain-score range, or with conditions that affect knee function are unlikely to benefit from this protocol.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could provide greater noninvasive pain relief and improved knee function without adding surgical risk.

How similar studies have performed: Extracorporeal shock wave therapy has shown mixed but sometimes positive results for patellar tendinopathy in prior randomized studies, while the specific addition of a coordinated fascial center-point is less well studied.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Adults aged between 18 and 45 yearsWillingness to sign an informed consent form and ability to cooperate with the treatment and follow-up aspects of this study.
2. Meeting the diagnostic criteria for patellar tendinitis as outlined in "Practical Sports Medicine" (2023 edition)
3. Knee joint pain with a VAS score of ≥3 and ≤7
4. No other orthopedic or neurological conditions that could affect lower limb strength or mobility
5. Willingness to sign an informed consent form and ability to cooperate with the treatment and follow-up aspects of this study

Exclusion Criteria:

1. History of knee joint surgery within the past year
2. Presence of knee pain due to other causes, or conditions that affect the knee joint or impact its function (including but not limited to: transient synovitis, bone tuberculosis, bone tumors, acute traumatic arthritis, suppurative arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, metabolic bone diseases, psoriatic arthritis, gouty arthritis, bone necrosis, ankylosing spondylitis, or active infections)
3. Presence of chronic knee pain caused by other reasons (such as post-herpetic neuralgia, osteoporosis, etc.)
4. Contraindications for shockwave therapy, such as deep venous thrombosis in the lower extremities, bleeding disorders or coagulation dysfunction, pregnancy, cognitive dysfunction, etc.
5. Presence of cancerous tumors, severe bronchiectasis, acute suppurative inflammation, high fever, active pulmonary tuberculosis, heart failure, severe anemia, cerebrovascular diseases, or the presence of a cardiac pacemaker implanted in the body
6. Inability to participate in the trial due to other health issues, such as sudden severe trauma, sudden severe infectious diseases, etc.

Where this trial is running

Guangzhou, Guangdong and 1 other locations

• 中山大学孙逸仙纪念医院 — Guangzhou, Guangdong, China (Recruiting)
• 中山大学孙逸仙纪念医院 — Guangzhou, Guangdong, China (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: 松坚 ke, 学士

Conditions Shock Wave Threapy for Patellar Tendinitis