Being patient and waiting until your quad strain is completely healed will prevent re-injury. The proper treatment to quickly reduce swelling and inflammation can allow your quad muscle to begin healing ASAP. Your quadriceps muscles on the fronts of your thighs are a group of four muscles: the vastus medialis , vastus intermedius, vastus lateralis and rectus femoris.
Your pulled quad muscle could involve one or more than one of those distinct muscles. The location of the pain in your quad may give you an idea as to which muscle has been affected. Strains occur when excess pressure causes the muscle fibers to become stretched to the point of tearing.
This often happens in sports activities when the quads contract forcefully to extend the leg during a kick or to accelerate during a sprint. When the demand for force is greater than the quads can accommodate, strains and other injuries occur.
Quad strains usually result from performing strenuous activity without a proper warmup and when the muscles are tight or fatigued. Muscular imbalances with the hamstring on the back of the thigh can also increase the chance of a quad strain. Muscle strains are graded based on the symptoms and the severity of those symptoms. This helps you and your doctor determine what course of treatment to take, and it can provide a rough estimate as to pulled quad recovery time.
Grade I is a mild strain accompanied by a sharp pain at the time of injury, but not enough that the activity had to be stopped. There may be some soreness and slight swelling following the strain, but it does not impede movement and there is no loss of muscle function or strength. Grade II is a moderate strain with more pain at the time of injury, likely enough for the activity to have to be discontinued.
There may be immediate swelling in the thigh area, or the swelling may appear later on. The pain will persist and some bruising may develop. Full recovery can take up to six weeks or more. For a mild strain or sprain, most people feel better after a week or two of rest. During this time, a gradual rehabilitation program is beneficial. Before stretching, apply a moist heat pack to the area for 15 to 20 minutes to warm up the muscles. When warm, you can do some gentle stretching of the legs and hips.
Try doing a quadriceps stretch by lying on your belly and pulling your foot up toward your buttocks until you feel a stretch. Gradually increase the tension, being careful to avoid sudden movements. Never stretch past the point of pain. Repeat this two to three times per day. You can also incorporate light strengthening activities such as seated leg extensions or wall squats. This will help strengthen your injured leg and prevent injury once you return to full activity. Always check with your doctor or physical therapist before doing any stretching or strengthening exercises.
The key to preventing injuries is to return to your activities slowly and not strain your muscle by doing too much, too fast. The AAOS recommends that the strength of your injured leg be at least 85 percent of your uninjured leg to return to competitive sport. Cold muscles are more likely to sustain an injury. Therefore, the best way to prevent damage is to perform a full warmup before any exercise or stretching.
Always allow for a longer warmup when exercising in cold weather. Learn about the causes of inner medial knee pain, treatments, and exercises you can do at home to strengthen the knee and relieve pain. Leg pain is a common symptom of injury or disease affecting the blood vessels, nerves, muscles, joints, soft tissues, or bones.
Many home remedies can…. How long does it take to heal a pulled quad? Medically reviewed by William Morrison, M. Symptoms and causes of a pulled quad. Share on Pinterest Common symptoms of a pulled quad include bruising, pain, and a loss of strength.
How to treat a pulled quad? Recovery time. Share on Pinterest Fully warming up before exercise is a recommended precaution. When to see a doctor. Exposure to air pollutants may amplify risk for depression in healthy individuals. Costs associated with obesity may account for 3. Related Coverage. People with groin strains who go back to activities too soon risk hurting the groin again.
When the doctor says it's OK, people with a groin strain can do strengthening and stretching muscles through physical therapy PT or an at-home exercise program. Anyone who has a groin strain should wait until it's fully healed before going back to activities. To help prevent a groin strain:.
Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. What Is a Groin Strain? All groin strains cause pain in the inner thigh.
Other signs and symptoms can include: swelling and bruising in the groin area muscle spasms weakness in the leg trouble walking What Causes a Groin Strain?
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