A forceful stretch or tear of the muscle or tendon in a weight-bearing muscle such as the quadriceps is painful and difficult to rest. A strain may occur in any of the quadriceps muscles but the rectus femoris is most commonly injured.
The force generated in activities such as sprinting, jumping and weight training may cause microtears in the muscle. When the muscle is stretched forcefully under a load as in high impact sports like football and hockey it may also pull away from the muscle-tendon junction or bony attachment or tear completely.
A quadriceps strain can result from a forceful contraction of the quadriceps or unusual stress placed on the muscles. As with other strains it is graded 1 through 3, with 3 being most severe:
Grade 1
Mildly tender and painful. Little or no swelling. Full muscular strength.
Grade 2
More marked pain and tenderness. Moderate swelling and possible bruising. Noticeable loss of strength.
Grade 3 (Full tear)
Extreme pain. Deformity, swelling and bruising. Inability to contract the muscle.
Rest, ice, compression and elevation are initial treatments, with anti-inflammatory medication. Followed with heat application and massage to promote blood flow and healing.
After the required rest period, activities should be resume cautiously. Avoiding activities that cause pain is important. Stretching and strengthening of the quadriceps will be necessary. Ensuring a balance of strength between the quadriceps and hamstrings is important to prevent a strain.
*Disclaimer
Our therapists provide injury treatment, advice, prevention, and rehabilitation exercises through sports massage, deep tissue massage, exercise programming and physiotherapy.
We provide educational content for informational purposes only. Aways seek a medical professionals care and advice regarding injuries.