Multimodal Care in the Management of a Patient With Chronic Tendinopathy of the Biceps Femoris: A Case Report.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this case report was to describe the use of dry needling in conjunction with auricular acupuncture, core exercises, and light aerobic activity for treating chronic tendinopathy of the biceps femoris.

CLINICAL FEATURES: A 30-year-old white female presented with chronic biceps femoris tendinopathy. The injury had occurred 18 months prior while training for a triathlon. Active stretching of her right biceps femoris while standing with her feet 6 inches apart aggravated the pain at the origin in the right tendon of the biceps femoris at 0 degrees of movement.

INTERVENTION/OUTCOME: The combination of dry needling and auricular acupuncture with core rehabilitation exercises and light activity was employed. Alleviation of pain with full range of motion was achieved during hip extension, knee flexion, and standing biceps femoris stretch at the 11th, 16th, and 18th treatments. In addition, the patient also reported improvement in her symptoms, including night sweats, insomnia, anxiety, tension, and constipation.

CONCLUSIONS: This patient's symptoms and function improved after 18 treatments of multimodal care. Dry needling employed simultaneously with auricular acupuncture, core exercises, and light activity could be considered a possible strategy for treating chronic tendinopathy.