Applying the Pain-Monitoring Model in a Female Elite Tennis Player With Proximal Hamstring Tendinopathy: A Case Report

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Tendinopathies are the most frequent overuse injury in tennis players although proximal hamstring tendinopathy (PHT) is uncommon. The pain-monitoring model is an approach used in other tendinopathies, but there is no data exploring its application in PHT. CASE PRESENTATION: This report describes the pain-monitoring model in the management of a 24-year-old female tennis player with right PHT. She had an insidious onset of a sharp and localized pain without irradiation. Hip joint involvement was ruled out. OUTCOME AND FOLLOW-UP: The rehabilitation was mainly based on progressive strength exercises and managing training loads based on the use of the pain-monitoring model. After 24 weeks of treatment, the player resumed unrestricted training with a Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment-Proximal Hamstring Tendons questionnaire (VISA-H) score of 76/100 and an Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center questionnaire (OSTRC) severity score of 0. DISCUSSION: This case report shows the feasibility of the pain-monitoring model in the management of PHT achieving the aim to progressively strengthen the hamstrings minimizing the loss of tennis-specific load. JOSPT Cases 2022;2(4):240–247. Epub: 17 October 2022. doi:10.2519/josptcases.2022.11372