For all tendinopathies , improvements in pain were significant when comparing GTN versus placebo in the short term ( < 8 weeks ; poor evidence ) .
Significant improvements in midterm outcomes for treatment with GTN versus placebo included the following : patient satisfaction ( strong evidence ) ; chances of being asymptomatic with activities of daily living ( strong evidence ) ; range of movement ( moderate evidence ) ; strength ( moderate evidence ) ; pain ( at night and with activity ; poor evidence ) and local tenderness ( poor evidence ) .
Patients treated with topical GTN reported a higher incidence of headaches than those who received placebo ( moderate evidence ) .
Conclusions and relevance Treatment of tendinopathies with topical GTN for up to 6 months appears to be superior to placebo and may therefore be a useful adjunct to the treating healthcare professions
Objective To produce a best evidence synthesis of the clinical effects of topical glyceryl trinitrate ( GTN ) in the treatment of tendinopathies .
Topical glyceryl trinitrate treatment of chronic patellar tendinopathy: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial
Objectives To assess if continuous topical glyceryl trinitrate ( GTN ) treatment improves outcome in patients with chronic patellar tendinopathy when compared with eccentric training alone . Methods R and omised double-blind , placebo-controlled clinical trial comparing a 12-week programme of using a GTN or placebo patch in combination with eccentric squats on a decline board . Measurements were performed at baseline , 6 , 12 and 24 weeks . Primary outcome measure was the Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment -Patella ( VISA-P ) question naire . Secondary outcome measures were patient satisfaction and pain scores during sports . Generalised estimated equation was used to analyse the treatment , time and treatment × time effect . Analyses were performed following the intention-to-treat principle . Results VISA-P scores for both groups improved over the study period to 75.0±16.2 and 80.7±22.1 at 24 weeks . Results showed a significant effect for time ( p<0.01 ) but no effect for treatment × time ( p=0.80 ) . Mean Visual Analogue Scores pain scores during sports for both groups increased over the study period to 6.6±3 and 7.8±3.1 . Results showed a significant effect for time ( p<0.01 ) but no effect for treatment × time ( p=0.38 ) . Patient satisfaction showed no difference between GTN and placebo groups ( p=0.25 ) after 24 weeks , but did show a significant difference over time ( p=0.01 ) . Three patients in the GTN group reported some rash . Conclusion It seems that continuous topical GTN treatment in addition to an eccentric exercise programme does not improve clinical outcome compared to placebo patches and an eccentric exercise programme in patients with chronic patellar tendinopathy
For all tendinopathies , improvements in pain were significant when comparing GTN versus placebo in the short term ( < 8 weeks ; poor evidence ) .
Significant improvements in midterm outcomes for treatment with GTN versus placebo included the following : patient satisfaction ( strong evidence ) ; chances of being asymptomatic with activities of daily living ( strong evidence ) ; range of movement ( moderate evidence ) ; strength ( moderate evidence ) ; pain ( at night and with activity ; poor evidence ) and local tenderness ( poor evidence ) .
Patients treated with topical GTN reported a higher incidence of headaches than those who received placebo ( moderate evidence ) .
Conclusions and relevance Treatment of tendinopathies with topical GTN for up to 6 months appears to be superior to placebo and may therefore be a useful adjunct to the treating healthcare professions
Objective To produce a best evidence synthesis of the clinical effects of topical glyceryl trinitrate ( GTN ) in the treatment of tendinopathies .