Study Summary

One hundred and nineteen patients with insertional Achilles tendinopathy were randomized to received extracorporeal shockwave therapy with eccentric exercise (ESWT +EE) (n=58) or eccentric exercise (EE) and sham therapy (n=61). The primary outcome was function measured by the Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment-Achilles questionnaire (VISA-A). Secondary outcomes of interest included pain scores, the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS), the Short Form Health Survey (SF-12), recurrence and failure of treatment. Both groups demonstrated significant improvements from baseline. No differences in the VISA-A, FAOS or SF-12 were found at any time point between groups. The EWST+EE group had significantly more patients who failed to respond to treatment whereas the sham group had significantly more patients with recurrence of symptoms.