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Question answered:14/04/08
We found no guidelines on this topic and the evidence we found was contradictory.
However, we found a number of trials which we’ll report, briefly, below. For further information see at least the full abstract via the URLs below.
Title: Topical glyceryl trinitrate treatment of chronic noninsertional achilles tendinopathy. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (2004) [1]
Conclusions: Topical glyceryl trinitrate significantly reduced pain with activity and at night, improved functional measures, and improved outcomes in patients with Achilles tendinopathy.
Title: Three-year followup study of topical glyceryl trinitrate treatment of chronic noninsertional Achilles tendinopathy (2007) [2]
Conclusions: Topical glyceryl trinitrate treatment has demonstrated efficacy in treating chronic noninsertional Achilles tendinopathy, and the treatment benefits continue at 3 years. Significant differences in asymptomatic patient outcomes for the glyceryl trinitrate group continue at 3 years, and this is confirmed by the effect size estimate. This suggests that the mechanism of action of topical glyceryl trinitrate on chronic tendinopathies is more than an analgesic effect.
Title: Topical Glyceryl Trinitrate and Noninsertional Achilles Tendinopathy: A Clinical and Cellular Investigation (2008) [3]
Conclusions: This study has failed to support the clinical benefit of GTN patches previously described in the literature. In the available tissue samples, there did not appear to be any histological or immunohistochemical change in Achilles tendinopathy treated with GTN compared with those undergoing standard nonoperative therapy.
References
1) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15118032
2) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17923056
3) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18359821
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