Abstract

Eccentric exercises are not effective for all patients with chronic patellar tendinopathy (CPT). The present case report aims to present the effect of the Bioptron light combined with an exercise programme on pain and disability in a patient experiencing CPT. A patient with unilateral CPT for 8 months was included in the present report. The patient followed a supervised exercise program five times per week for 6 weeks consisting of eccentric-concentric training, isometric contraction, simple lumbo-pelvic control exercises and static stretching exercises of hamstrings and quadriceps. The programme was individualized based on the patient’s description of pain experienced during the procedure. Bioptron light was applied twice, once before and once after the exercise programme for 10 minutes each time. The patient was evaluated using the VISA-P questionnaire, the pain pressure threshold (PPT) and the strength of knee extensor at baseline, at the end of treatment (week 6), and 1 month (week 10) after the end of treatment. At the end of the treatment and at the follow-up there was a decline in pain and a rise in function. The results of the present trial suggest that the bioptron light combined with an exercise programme consisting of eccentric-concentric training, isometric contraction, simple lumbo-pelvic control exercises and static stretching exercises of hamstrings and quadriceps can produce significant improvements in terms of pain and disability in CPT.