Randomised controlled trial evaluating the short-term analgesic effect of topical diclofenac on chronic Achilles tendon pain: a pilot study.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To determine if a topically applied non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (diclofenac) can provide short-term pain relief for chronic Achilles tendinopathy (CAT), in order to inform the development of a new rehabilitation protocol.

Design and setting

Pilot double-blind, cross-over randomised controlled trial providing participants with tertiary care. The study was conducted at a single research centre in Vancouver, BC.

Participants

Sixteen adults with unilateral CAT and three adults with bilateral CAT participated.

Interventions

Participants received two successive treatments (10% diclofenac gel or placebo gel) in random order over a 3-day period. There was a 1-week washout period between the treatments. Allocation was by simple randomisation, and the

SUBMITTER: Bussin ER 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5566615 | biostudies-literature | 2017 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature