Table 4.  Therapeutic effects of different treatments for chronic tendinopathies.

-          Treatment

Efficacy on pain
(short-term)

Efficacy on pain
(long-term)

Effect on recidivation

-          Rest & ice 

++

-

-

-          NSAIDs

++

- to ±

-

-          Passive physiotherapy (US, DTFM, acupuncture…)

± to +

-

-

-          Orthotic devices

+

±

-

-          Corticosteroid injections

+++

- to ±

-

-          Eccentric training

  +

+++

++

-          ESWT

++

++ to +++

+ (?)

-          Sclerosant injections

++

++ (?)

?

-          BTA injections

++

+ (?)

?

-          Injections of blood or PRP

± to +

+++ (?)

?

-          Topical NO therapy

++

+++ (?)

?

-          Injections of MMP-inhibitor

++

++ (?)

?

-          Stem-cell or gene therapy

?

?

?

-: no efficacy; ±: little efficacy; +: good efficacy; ++: very good efficacy; +++: excellent efficacy; (?): need more trials; ?: efficacy unknown