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Long-Hold Yielding Isometric Exercise for Patellar Tendinopathy in Weightlifting Athletes
Sponsor: Universidad Complutense de Madrid
Summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether a long-hold yielding isometric exercise program improves pain, tendon vascularity, mechanical properties, and functional performance in weightlifting athletes with patellar tendinopathy. The study will also explore the safety and feasibility of this exercise strategy. Researchers will compare the long-hold isometric intervention with routine training recommendations to determine its effects on symptoms and tendon function. Participants will perform the supervised isometric protocol and complete pain ratings, functional tests, and ultrasound evaluations of the patellar tendon.
Official title: Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluating the Effects of Long-Hold Yielding Isometric Exercise on Pain, Function, Vascularity, and Mechanical Properties of the Patellar Tendon in Competitive Weightlifting Athletes
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
18 Years - 45 Years
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
24
Start Date
2027-02-01
Completion Date
2028-04-01
Last Updated
2026-01-23
Healthy Volunteers
No
Conditions
Interventions
Long-Hold Yielding Isometric Exercise Program
The intervention consists of a structured long-hold yielding isometric (LH-YI) loading program targeting the patellar tendon. Participants perform 3-5 sets of 3-5 repetitions, each held for 30-60 seconds at an intensity corresponding to 3-4/10 discomfort. Exercises are executed in a controlled knee-flexion position, either as a yielding squat or machine-assisted isometric hold. Training takes place three times per week for 8 weeks, with one supervised session weekly to ensure correct load, technique, adherence, and safety. The protocol aims to induce mechanotransductive adaptation, reduce pain, modulate tendon vascularity, and improve tendon stiffness and neuromechanical performance.
Usual-Care Training Condition
Participants maintain their regular weightlifting training following standard recommendations for patellar tendinopathy management. This includes load monitoring, symptom-guided progression, avoidance of high-irritability movements, and general strengthening. No long-duration isometric exercises or targeted LH-YI loading are permitted. This condition serves as an active comparator reflecting real-world practice to isolate the specific therapeutic and mechanobiological effects of the long-hold yielding isometric protocol.
Locations (1)
Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Faculty of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Podiatry, Department of Physiotherapy
Madrid, Madrid, Spain