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document
The additional value of a night splint to eccentric exercises in chronic midportion Achilles tendinopathy : a randomised controlled trial . AIM To assess whether the use of a night splint is of added benefit on functional outcome in treating chronic midportion Achilles tendinopathy . METHODS This was a single-blind , prospective , single centre , randomised controlled trial set in the Sports Medical Department , The Hague Medical Centre , The Netherlands . Inclusion criteria were : age 18-70 years , active participation in sports , and tendon pain localised at 2-7 cm from distal insertion . Exclusion criteria were : insertional disorders , partial or complete ruptures , or systemic illness . 70 tendons were included and randomised into one of two treatment groups : eccentric exercises with a night splint ( night splint group , n = 36 ) or eccentric exercises only ( eccentric group , n = 34 ) . INTERVENTIONS Both groups completed a 12-week heavy-load eccentric training programme . One group received a night splint in addition to eccentric exercises . At baseline and follow-up at 12 weeks , patient satisfaction , Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment-Achilles questionnaire ( VISA-A ) score and reported compliance were recorded by a single-blind trained researcher who was blinded to the treatment . RESULTS After 12 weeks , patient satisfaction in the eccentric group was 63 % compared with 48 % in the night splint group . The VISA-A score significantly improved in both groups ; in the eccentric group from 50.1 to 68.8 ( p = 0.001 ) and in the night splint group from 49.4 to 67.0 ( p < 0.001 ) . There was no significant difference between the two groups in VISA-A score ( p = 0.815 ) and patient satisfaction ( p = 0.261 ) . CONCLUSION A night splint is not beneficial in addition to eccentric exercises in the treatment of chronic midportion Achilles tendinopathy .
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Intervention_Physical
night splint to eccentric exercises
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Intervention_Physical
use of a night splint
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Intervention_Physical
eccentric exercises with a night splint
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Intervention_Physical
eccentric exercises only
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Intervention_Physical
heavy-load eccentric training programme
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Intervention_Physical
night splint in addition to eccentric exercises
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Intervention_Physical
night splint
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Intervention_Physical
night splint
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Outcome_Other
patient satisfaction
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Outcome_Physical
Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment-Achilles questionnaire ( VISA-A ) score
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Outcome_Mental
reported compliance
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Outcome_Other
patient satisfaction
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Outcome_Physical
VISA-A score
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Outcome_Physical
VISA-A score
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Outcome_Other
patient satisfaction
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Participant_Condition
chronic midportion Achilles tendinopathy
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Participant_Condition
chronic midportion Achilles tendinopathy
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Participant_Age
age 18-70 years
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Participant_Condition
active participation in sports
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Participant_Condition
tendon pain localised at 2-7 cm from distal insertion