OBJECTIVE:To compare the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of eccentric loading exercises (ELE) with prolotherapy injections used singly and in combination for painful Achilles tendinosis.

DESIGN:A single-blinded randomised clinical trial. The primary outcome measure was the VISA-A questionnaire with a minimum clinically important change (MCIC) of 20 points.

SETTING:Five Australian primary care centres.

PARTICIPANTS:43 patients with painful mid-portion Achilles tendinosis commenced and 40 completed treatment protocols.

INTERVENTIONS:Participants were randomised to a 12-week program of ELE (n=15), or prolotherapy injections of hypertonic glucose with lignocaine alongside the affected tendon (n=14) or combined treatment (n=14).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS:VISA-A, pain, stiffness and limitation of activity scores; treatment costs.

RESULTS:At 12 months, proportions achieving the MCIC for VISA-A were 73% for ELE, 79% for prolotherapy and 86% for combined treatment. Mean (95% CI) increases in VISA-A scores at 12 months were 23.7 (15.6 to 31.9) for ELE, 27.5 (12.8 to 42.2) for prolotherapy and 41.1 (29.3 to 52.9) for combined treatment. At 6 weeks and 12 months, these increases were significantly less for ELE than for combined treatment. Compared with ELE, reductions in stiffness and limitation of activity occurred earlier with prolotherapy and reductions in pain, stiffness and limitation of activity occurred earlier with combined treatment. Combined treatment had the lowest incremental cost per additional responder ($A1539) compared with ELE.

CONCLUSIONS:For Achilles tendinosis, prolotherapy and particularly ELE combined with prolotherapy give more rapid improvements in symptoms than ELE alone but long-term VISA-A scores are similar.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER:ACTRN: 12606000179538.

Background: Achilles tendinopathy is a common injury for active patient populations and is challenging to treat. Acupuncture tendon-based therapy was first described in the Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine. In modern times, specific techniques have been described poorly in the literature. The aim of this case report is to describe a new technique of acupuncture for the treatment of Achilles tendinopathy and provide 2 illustrative cases. Cases: Treatments for the 2 patients were performed in a deployed military treatment facility. SERIN® 0.25 mm × 40 mm needles placed at BL 60, BL 61, KI 3, and KI 4, with needles directed into the Achilles tendon of each patient. Needles were inserted until a firm catch of the needle entering the tendon was discerned. Energy was placed from KI 3(-) → KI 4(+) and BL61 (-) → BL 60(+) at 30 Hz for 15 minutes. Results: Both patients reported symptomatic reduction in Achilles tendinopathy pain and functional improvement following the described treatments. Conclusions: This case series describes two cases of successful Achilles tendinopathy therapy using direct tendon needle insertion with electrostimulation. This novel technique may provide an effective adjunct to traditional therapies in the treatment of Achilles tendinopathy.