Inertial Flywheel Resistance Training in Tendinopathy Rehabilitation: A Scoping Review.
Ian Burton, Aisling McCormack
PMID 35949372WHAT IT FOUND
Inertial flywheel training improved pain and function in patellar tendinopathy.
It was as effective as heavy slow resistance training in the only randomized trial. Evidence is limited to four small studies on athletes, so it cannot yet be recommended for other tendon conditions.
Key findings
01All four included studies reported significant improvements in pain and function for patellar tendinopathy following inertial flywheel training.
02In the only randomized controlled trial, inertial flywheel training produced equal improvements in pain, function, strength, power, and tendon structure compared to heavy slow resistance training.
03No studies were found for inertial flywheel training in tendinopathies other than patellar tendinopathy.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
Only four studies were included, all focused on patellar tendinopathy, with no evidence for other tendon sites. The sample sizes were small (total n=125), and the studies were primarily conducted on athletes, limiting generalizability to the general population. Two of the four studies combined IFRT with another treatment (EPI), making it impossible to isolate the effect of IFRT alone in those cases. Critical appraisal of the included studies was not conducted, as is standard for scoping reviews, so the risk of bias in the individual studies is unknown. Follow-up periods were short, with a maximum of 12 weeks, so long-term effects are unknown.
Declared interests
None declared. No sources of funding were used.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume IFRT is effective for all tendinopathies. The evidence only supports its use for patellar tendinopathy in athletes. Additionally, do not interpret the positive results from the two cohort studies as proof that IFRT alone works, as they combined IFRT with another treatment.