Tendon Traction Point Therapy for Medial Knee Pain in an Elite Badminton Player: A Case Report

Abstract: Medial knee pain in elite athletes is often attributed to structural lesions such as medial meniscus tears; however, imaging findings do not always correspond to the primary pain generator. We report a 20-year-old elite badminton player diagnosed with a partial tear of the medial meniscus posterior horn (MMPH) who presented with severe medial knee pain and was initially recommended for surgical treatment. Detailed clinical evaluation suggested that the patient’s symptoms were more consistent with pes anserinus-related pathology involving the sartorius, gracilis, and semitendinosus (SGS) tendon complex. Under ultrasound guidance, four weekly injections of 5 mL 5% dextrose were administered into the tendon traction points (TTP) of the sartorius, gracilis, and semitendinosus muscles. Pain scores markedly improved from 8 to 1 on the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), with rapid recovery of function and full return to competition without surgical intervention. At two-month follow-up, the athlete reported minimal residual discomfort without any functional limitations. This case highlights the importance of identifying the true pain generator in medical knee pain and demonstrates that TTP injection therapy is a safe, steroid-free, and minimally invasive non-surgical alternative, particularly in athletes where rapid return to play is critical. Keywords: knee pain, medial meniscus posterior horn, badminton, tendon traction point injection