Management of patellar tendinopathy: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomised studies

Challoumas D, et al. · BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine

Progressive loading (eccentric-based) with or without adjuncts should remain first-line; isometrics did not emerge as a superior standalone therapy. Positions isometrics as adjunct pain-modulation, not the core program.

Population

37 RCTs in patellar tendinopathy (33 interventions)

Intervention

Network meta-analysis of all conservative and adjunct treatments

Comparator

Across interventions

Limitations

Indirect network comparisons; heterogeneous outcome measures; tendon population, extrapolation to joints uncertain.