Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy Is Associated With Similar Functional Outcomes for Male and Female Runners With Patellar or Quadriceps Tendinopathy: A Pilot Investigation

Abstract

Purpose

To characterize functional outcomes in runners with patellar tendinopathy (PT) and quadriceps tendinopathy (QT) following extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) and explore differences in response by tendinopathy (PT or QT) and by sex (female or male).

Methods

This is a retrospective cohort study of runners with PT or QT treated with ESWT (radial or combined radial and focused) at a single sports medicine clinic during a 5-year period. Individuals were included if they had a primary diagnosis of PT or QT, self-identified as a runner, and had complete baseline and final functional outcome questionnaires for ESWT with treatment duration defined by response based on best practices. Functional outcome at baseline and following treatment were assessed using the Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment–Patellar Tendon questionnaires. Treatment success was defined as meeting the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) of ≥13 points.

Results

Of the 19 runners included, 26% identified as female and 74% as male; all runners identified as cisgendered. There were 12 runners with PT (17% female, 83% male) and 7 with QT (43% female, 57% male). Median follow-up was 3.0 months (range, 1.0-23.0; interquartile range, 3.0-6.0). Of all runners, 67% with PT and 71% with QT achieved MCID with no significant difference between tendinopathy groups (P = .90). There was also no difference in the percentage that achieved MCID between sexes, with 80% of women and 64% of men meeting MCID (P = .72).

Conclusions

Similar functional outcomes were observed in female and male runners with QT or PT following radial and combined ESWT, with most achieving MCID. This study suggests that ESWT, in combination with physical therapy, may be an effective treatment for runners with PT or QT and that ESWT could be considered for PT or QT refractory to physical therapy.

Level of Evidence

Level IV, retrospective case series.