QUADRICEPS STRAIN

 The Injury

A thigh strain is quite common in sports like football, where kicking is repeatedly practiced. The injury refers to a tear in the quadriceps muscle group. The quadriceps are located at the front of the thigh and are responsible for extending (straightening) the knee. The quadriceps group is made up of four muscles: Rectus femoris, Vastus lateralis, Vastus intermedius and Vastus medialis.

Usually the muscle is forcibly stretched beyond its limits and the muscle tissue becomes torn during an activity such as sprinting or kicking a ball. A tear in a muscle is referred to as a strain and depending on its severity it is classified as a first, second or third degree strain.

• a first degree strain is damage to a few muscle fibers

• a second degree strain is damage to a more extensive number of muscle fibers

• a third degree strain is a complete rupture of the muscle itself

 Signs and Symptoms

• With a grade 1 thigh strain the signs may not be present until after the activity is over.
• There may be a sensation of cramp or tightness and a slight feeling of pain when the muscles are stretched or contracted.

• With a grade 2 thigh strain there is immediate pain which is more severe than the pain of a grade one injury and produces pain on walking.
• It is confirmed by pain on stretch and contraction of the muscle.
• A grade two groin strain is usually sore to touch.

• A grade 3 strain is a complete rupture of a muscle and is a serious injury.
• There is immediate burning or stabbing pain and the athlete is unable to walk without pain.
• Often there is a depression in the thigh at the location of the tear and a lump above the depression.
• After a few days with grade two and three injuries a large bruise will appear below the injury site caused by bleeding within the tissues.

 Treatment & Prevention

- see Muscle Strains