WITHDRAWN: Interventions for treating acute and chronic Achilles tendinitis

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Sports Medicine
• Rehabilitation

Background:

• Achilles tendinitis is a prevalent sports injury with no established treatment consensus.
• Effective management strategies for this condition remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically evaluate the efficacy of diverse treatment interventions for adult Achilles tendinitis.
• The review aimed to synthesize evidence for both acute and chronic cases.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was conducted across multiple databases (Cochrane, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL) up to December 2000.
• Included were randomized or quasi-randomized trials of treatments for Achilles tendinitis, excluding pathological cases and trials comparing drugs within the same class.
• Trial quality was assessed, and data were extracted by independent reviewers.

Main Results:

• Nine trials involving 697 patients met the inclusion criteria.
• Weak evidence suggests non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may offer modest benefits for acute symptoms.
• Limited evidence indicated no significant difference for treatments like low-dose heparin, heel pads, topical laser therapy, and steroid injections compared to no treatment.

Conclusions:

• There is insufficient high-quality evidence from randomized controlled trials to guide the optimal treatment for Achilles tendinitis.
• Further rigorous research is essential to establish effective therapeutic approaches.