Quadriceps Strain
What is a Quad Strain?
The quadriceps (quad) are a group of four muscles that are located on your thigh and insert into your kneecap. Strains of the quadriceps muscles are common and usually occur during sprinting, jumping or kicking.
Symptoms
The main symptoms for a quad strain is pain and tenderness on the front of your thigh, other symptoms include:
Bruising or swelling on the inside of the thigh
A feeling of weakness or tightness in the thigh
Difficulty raising your leg, bending or extending your knee
Difficulty walking, especially up/down stairs
Treatment
If you suspect you have strained your quadriceps muscle, applying ice, using a compression bandage and elevating the area can reduce your pain levels. However, movement as you can tolerate is the key – especially in the early stages of injury!
Treatment in our clinic will largely depend on your impairments and what we need to get you back doing! Usually a combination of hands-on therapy and a progressive strength training program will be the main focus of your recovery.
If you are an athlete who plays a sport involving running, jumping and landing you will be exposed to plyometric based exercises. These types of exercises mimic the demands of your sport and will ensure you are back playing at your highest performance.
Written by Jack Rains
— Physiotherapist, Sydney
Back pain is a prevalent issue that affects millions of people worldwide. However, there are numerous myths surrounding the causes and treatments of back pain that can lead to misinformation and confusion.