Ultrasound-Guided Needle Electrolysis of the Rectus Femoris for Patellar Tendinopathy: A Technique Description (journalofsportsmedicine.org)

• Describes ultrasound-guided percutaneous needle electrolysis of the rectus femoris for patellar tendinopathy.
• Provides detailed technique: patient supine, hip flexed, needle at proximal myotendinous junction, current applied.
• Highlights theoretical advantage of addressing rectus femoris to offload patellar tendon.
• Reports preliminary case series with positive outcomes but notes need for controlled trials.

"This article details a novel ultrasound-guided percutaneous needle electrolysis technique targeting the rectus femoris muscle in patients with patellar tendinopathy. It offers step-by-step clinical guidance, including patient positioning, needle insertion at the proximal rectus femoris myotendinous junction, and electrical current parameters. The rationale is that addressing the rectus femoris, a key hip flexor and quadriceps component, can improve patellar tendon load distribution and reduce pain. Preliminary case series suggest favorable outcomes, but the evidence level is preliminary. This practical protocol provides Irish physiotherapists with an additional tool for managing chronic patellar tendinopathy, particularly when conventional eccentric loading fails."