Glucopuncture for Achilles Tendinopathy: A Descriptive Review

Abstract

As sports related injuries such as Achilles tendinopathy are prevalent, it is important to investigate new treatment modalities which are safe, easy to apply and effective. Over the last decade, glucose 5% injections have received more attention among clinicians. Unfortunately, no large randomized clinical trials have confirmed their effectiveness so far. This article invites the medical community for further basic-science and clinical studies to clarify the potential benefits of local glucose 5% injections for Achilles tendinopathy. The goal of introducing the term Glucopuncture is to raise awareness among physicians of the interesting risk-benefits ratio of regional glucose 5% injections and to point out the difference with Prolotherapy.

Glucopuncture for Traumatic Periostitis of the Tibial Crest. An Alternative for NSAIDs?

“…The application of glucose 5% injections was first introduced in South Korea by Dr Kim MY in 1997 for treatment of myofascial trigger points [10]. Glucose 5% injections are used for tennis elbow [11], carpal tunnel syndrome [12], rotator cuff [13,14], epidural injection [15], Achilles tendinopathy [16], ulnar neuropathy [17], mild neuropathic pain [18], Dupuytren's Grade 1, anterior knee pain [19], and nerve hydrodissection [20]. In a 2021 study, the short term effects of perineural glucose 5% injections were similar to steroids, and their long-term effects were even better than steroid injections [21].…”