Thigh
Muscle Strain Injury & Football
Thigh Muscle Strain Injury
Explained
In sports like football where kicking is a regular activity,
Thigh muscle strain is a common occurrence. This injury is
a result of a tear in the Quadriceps muscle group. Found at
the front of the thigh, the Quadriceps muscle group is responsible
for movements that involve an extending the knee. The Quadriceps
group is composed of four muscles: Rectus Femoris, Vastus
Lateralis, Vastus Intermedius and Vastus Medialis.
In activities such as sprinting or kicking,
excessive force is applied to the muscles such that they are
stretched beyond their limits. These activities eventually
result to a tear in the muscle tissues. When such a tear occurs
in one of the thigh muscles, it is referred to as Thigh strain.
Depending on its severity, the thigh tear may range from a
first to a third degree strain.
• In a first degree strain, only
a few muscle fibres are damaged.
• In a second degree strain, the damage would involve
a more extensive number of muscle fibres.
• In a third degree strain, the muscle itself would
have a complete rupture.
Thigh Muscle Strain Signs & Symptoms
A grade one thigh strain may be felt only after
the activity is over. The patient may feel sensations similar
to a cramp. He or she may also experience tightness in the
thigh along with some pain when extending or contracting the
thigh muscles.
A grade two strain’s effects will be felt immediately.
There will be a more severe pain and the injury will also
make walking extremely painful. The injury will be verified
if there is throbbing when the muscle is either stretched
or contracted. Also, this degree of strain will be sore to
touch.
The most severe of all, a grade three injury
would involve a complete tear in the muscle itself. In this
grade, the patient will instantly experience stabbing pains
emanating from the thigh. Walking will also come with an extreme
amount of pain. Because of the tear, there may be a visible
depression in the thigh as well as a lump above that depression.
An injury of this magnitude will also cause internal bleeding
which, after a few days, will manifest as large bruises on
the skin.
Thigh Muscle Strain Treatment
In order to lessen the bleeding and the damage
within the tissues, a combination of rest, ice and compression
must be immediately applied to the injury. Although resting
may seem like a typical form of treatment, many competitive
athletes fail to recognize its importance. Failure to have
adequate rest could be very dangerous since it takes very
little for an injury to escalate from one degree of severity
to another. In general, a patient must refrain from any sports-related
activity for about three weeks in order to facilitate healing
of a grade one Thigh strain.
For a grade two thigh strain, rest must be increased
to about four to six weeks. In the case of a grade three strain,
a surgery will be necessary in order to repair the ruptured
muscles. After the procedure, the patient must undergo rehabilitation
for three months.
Whether the patient has a grade one, two or
three injury, the immediate treatment of the thigh strain
is the same. With a compression bandage put
in place, the thigh must be elevated and must be refrained
from any motion. An ice pack must also be applied at two-hour
intervals, for 20 minutes each time. The bleeding, as well
as the inflammation of the tissues will be reduced after these
procedures have been carried out. More active rehabilitation
may begin only after the patient has had a couple days of
rest.
During the healing process, a scar tissue will
form on the area of injury. Gentle resistance exercises along
with thigh stretching will aid in the alignment of the scar.
The tensile strength of the thigh muscle will improve once
the scar tissue is properly aligned along the normal lines
of stress.
In the beginning, a therapist will provide gentle
resistance. However, as the muscle heals and strengthens,
it will be possible to use resistance bands that can offer
a more challenging exercise. The number of sets and repetitions
performed will be gradually increased. Eventually, the patient
will be able to start working on his Core strength.
By enhancing muscle function across the torso
and the pelvis, exercises dedicated to Core Strength and Core
Stability will help reduce the risk of injuries to the Hamstring.
Ideally, cores strength exercise should be done with the use
of a Swiss Ball (below) along with resistance bands.

Click
here to view exercise balls to strengthen hamstring and quadriceps
muscles
Functional activity is possible after the strength
of both the Core and the Hamstring are developed. Gentle jogging
can be started seven to nine days after sustaining a grade
one injury. Meanwhile, straight line sprinting may be initiated
three weeks from the date of injury. During this active physiotherapy,
the use of Warm Pants (Compression Pants) or thigh
support may provide reassurance.
An ideal method to maintain fitness while on
rehabilitation is running in the pool with the help of a buoyancy
aid.

Click
here to view buoyancy jackets for water therapy
Thigh Muscle Strain Prevention
The following measures may help in reducing
the risk of sustaining thigh injuries:
• Before participating in matches and
trainings, it is ideal to warm up first. In warming up, the
temperature of muscle tissues is increased by one or two degrees.
This makes the muscle more flexible and thus, less susceptible
to muscle stretch injuries. Ideally, the warm up should last
for twenty minutes, with the exercise beginning at a gentle
pace and ending with full pace activity. In order to develop
coordination while improving mental preparedness, the warm
up must also be utilised to practice sport-specific movements
and routines. Warm
pants or thigh support may be worn since they can help
maintain the muscle temperature while providing protection
against muscle injuries.
• A cool down after training sessions
will also help enhance the patient’s recovery. The process
of cooling down is believed to be helpful in cleansing the
body of its waste products. Stretching exercises may also
be added.
• Muscle strains may also be prevented
if the person maintains good flexibility as well as excellent
muscle strength. Excellent muscle strength assures the person
of a high level of control when performing activities. This
lessens the occurrence of uncoordinated movements that can
lead to injury.
• Strains are often associated with tightness
in the muscles. To maintain muscle length and prevent injury,
it is advisable to stretch on a gym mat.
• A person’s diet also plays a part
in the prevention of injuries. In order to have an adequate
supply of energy needed to perform muscle contractions, a
player’s diet must be high in carbohydrates during the
48 hours prior to a match. However, if the player is short
on carbohydrates and on energy, fatigue will easily set in.
This fatigue increases his risk for injury so energy bars
and gels may be necessary to increase his stamina.
Football
Rescue Recommends




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Description
Ultra thin and comfortable neoprene compression
shorts offering increased support to the groin, thigh and
hamstring region.
How it Works
The compression and warmth provided by the Vulkan
Warm Pants is perfect for the treatment and prevention of
thigh, groin and hamstring muscle strains. Compression helps
to provide physical support and reassurance, while the therapeutic
heat helps to increase and retain muscle temperature. This
helps to make soft tissues more 'stretchy' and less prone
to strain injury.
When to use it
Can be useful during severe and persistent hamstring,
groin and thigh muscle strains. The warmth provided by the
neoprene support can also be very useful for the prevention
of muscle strains.
View
neoprene shorts that provide compression and support for thighs,
groin and hamstring injuries

The Vulkan Neoprene range features premium quality
neoprene. This offers the best possible combination of support,
compression, heat retention and comfort. Vulkan Neoprene has
a unique spiral lining which is critical in removing excess
sweat which avoids skin problems and is more comfortable to
wear.
By retaining heat there is an increase in the
elasticity of the soft tissues. This is helpful for the treatment
and prevention of a thigh muscle injury. By increasing local
blood flow, healing and recovery times can be reduced following
a thigh injury. The Vulkan Thigh support can also be used
as a preventive measure where there has been a history of
thigh muscle injury. By warming the tissues and acting as
a heat retainer it can reduce the risk of re-injury.
When to use it?
The Vulkan Thigh Support can be useful during
acute and chronic hamstring and thigh muscle strains. The
warmth provided by the neoprene support can also be very useful
for the prevention of hamstring and thigh muscle strains.
It is easy to apply and doesn't restrict movement, making
it ideal for use in all sports.
View
hamstring supports that provide warmth, compression and support
to injured thigh & hamstring areas