Topical nitroglycerin treatment of patellar tendinopathy. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Patellar tendinopathy is a frequent injury in sporting people. Unfortunately,
there are no clear strategies for treatment yet. Also there is no therapy with
satisfactory results. The etiology of patellar tendinopathy is not totally
clear yet and it is very important that we can offer a good treatment strategy
to our patients. Recent clinical investigation revealed good results of
eccentric training in these patients. Nitroglycerin patches gave some good
results in treatment of other kinds of tendon injuries. Probably this is the
result of stimulating the production of collagen by nitro oxid.

The objective of this randomised, placebo-controlled trial is to compare a
combination of eccentric training and nitroglycerin patches with a combination
of eccentric training and placebo patches.

This randomised trial is double-blind. Each patient will receive a patch, but
half of them is a placebo one. Eccentric training will also be instructed by
every patient. Patients will be examinated following a standardized procedure.
The investigator is not aware about which kind of therapy the patient is
receiving.

Eccentric training during 12 weeks. The exercises have to be done two times a
day in 3 series of 15 repetitions for everyday of the week.

De nitroglycerin patches or placebo patches have to be applicated each day at
the patellar tendon.

Everyday eccentric training with a VAS score of 4-5 on a scale of 0 to 10,
which takes 10 minutes a day.
Applicate everyday a patch at the patellar region.
There are no risks.