Rectus femoris tendinopathy: a case report

Abstract

Tendinopathy may not be noticed in the differential diagnosis due to the complaint of pain spreading to the leg in the presence of nerve radiculopathy in the lumbar discopathy which is seen more frequently in the clinic shows similarity to the leg pain of musculus rectus femoris tendinopathy which is rarely seen. This situation leads to time, labor force and economic loss for both the patient and the health professionals. The case referred to the hospital with severe lower extremity pain and the complaint of incapability to walk. Despite the absence of findings in the imaging reports supporting a discopathy; conventional physiotherapy, intramuscular injection, and nerve blockage treatments were administered for the discopathy due to the clinical presentation. However, the complaints of the patient did not recover. The patient who had pain with a maneuver during exercise training was evaluated regarding tendinopathy and m.rectus femoris tendinitis was diagnosed with ultrasonography. The pain, quality of life and lower extremity functions of the patient were evaluated before and after treatment. The isolated deep transverse friction massage was applied on the tendon for the treatment. A positive change in pain, quality of life and lower extremity function scores was obtained after the five sessions of treatment.