Study designs of evaluations included in the review
Prospective studies, including randomised controlled trials (RCTs), were eligible for inclusion.
Specific interventions included in the review
Studies of eccentric training were eligible for inclusion. The specific interventions evaluated by the included trials were eccentric drop squats, eccentric training on a decline board, and eccentric training and stretching. The comparator treatments included leg extension or curls (concentric training), eccentric training on a flat floor, ultrasound and transverse friction, eccentric training drop squats with flat heel on a step, regular sports training, concentric training on a decline board and surgical treatment. Most interventions were home-based programmes with twice daily training for 12 weeks; in one study treatment duration was 4 weeks.
Participants included in the review
Studies of patients with patellar tendinopathy were eligible for inclusion. The included studies recruited patients from different sports, sports medicine clinics, rehabilitation and rheumatology centres, and high-level volleyball players.
Outcomes assessed in the review
Studies had to focus on a defined clinical outcome to be eligible for inclusion. The outcomes assessed by the included studies were pain (based on visual analogue scales or patient satisfaction), return to sport, and Victoria Institute of Sport Assessment. The duration of follow-up post-treatment ranged from 0 to 33 months.
How were decisions on the relevance of primary studies made?
The authors did not state how the papers were selected for the review, or how many reviewers performed the selection. However, they stated that the studies were judged on their contribution to the body of knowledge.