Table 4. Therapeutic effects of different treatments for chronic tendinopathies.
| Treatment |
Efficacy on pain
(short-term) |
Efficacy on pain
(long-term) |
Effect on recidivation |
| Rest & ice |
++ |
- |
- |
| NSAIDs |
++ |
- to ± |
- |
| Passive physiotherapy (US, DTFM, acupuncture…) |
± to + |
- |
- |
| Orthotic devices |
+ |
± |
- |
| Corticosteroid injections |
+++ |
- to ± |
- |
| Eccentric training |
+ |
+++ |
++ |
| ESWT |
++ |
++ to +++ |
+ (?) |
| Sclerosant injections |
++ |
++ (?) |
? |
| BTA injections |
++ |
+ (?) |
? |
| Injections of blood or PRP |
± to + |
+++ (?) |
? |
| Topical NO therapy |
++ |
+++ (?) |
? |
| Injections of MMP-inhibitor |
++ |
++ (?) |
? |
| Stem-cell or gene therapy |
? |
? |
? |
-: no efficacy±: little efficacy+: good efficacy++: very good efficacy+++: excellent efficacy(?): need more trials?: efficacy unknown
