Isometric Contractions Are More Analgesic Than Isotonic Contractions for Patellar Tendon Pain: An In-Season Randomized Clinical Trial

Rio E, et al. · Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine

Both groups improved, but isometrics produced significantly greater immediate analgesia over 4 weeks (p<0.002); week-1 pain response predicted 4-week VISA-P improvement (r=0.64). Supports isometrics as an in-season pain-modulation tool.

Population

20 in-season jumping athletes with patellar tendinopathy

Intervention

4 weeks isometric leg extension (80% MVIC) vs isotonic leg extension (80% 8RM)

Comparator

Isotonic exercise

Limitations

Small, short, tendon pain not joint cartilage; no true control arm.