Diagnosing a Quadricep Strain

To help your doctor achieve a proper diagnosis, he/she will begin with a medical history about you, your current condition and symptoms. He/she will inquire about the intensity of your present pain, if you heard a popping noise when you first experienced your injury, the duration and type of symptoms and the limitations you are experiencing. Details about what instigated your problem, when it started, and whether or not you have ever had treatments for this or a similar condition in the past, will be very helpful in assessing your injury.

A physical examination will be performed to determine if you have any signs of a quadriceps strain. Your doctor will visually assess and feel the muscles, bones and other soft tissue in and around your quadriceps, as well as your entire leg/knee, pelvis and lower back, to evaluate sameness (symmetry), recognize differences and identify pain and tenderness. This will help to discover any abnormalities, such as mild or severe inflammation, fluid, bruising, bone or tissue deformity, and leg length discrepancies. He/she may ask you to complete a series of flexing and extending leg movements to see what motions cause pain, weakness, tightness, or instability. This will help to determine the location of your injury (in the muscle belly or near the attachment), test for the grade of your quadriceps strain and any muscle imbalances. Generally with a strain you will experience resisted extension and pain, where as with a tear you will not be able to complete a straight leg raise. He/she will also evaluate your feet and gait (the way you walk) to determine if you overpronate, or have other alignment issues.

Most Common Quadriceps Injury Diagnostic Tests:

Most grade 1 or 2 quadriceps strains don't require diagnostic testing, however these tests will help confirm if you have a grade 3 strain and/or will rule out other causes of quadriceps pain. The severity of quadriceps injuries can often be missed, hidden or underestimated because swelling and bleeding can occur deep within the muscle. Without a diagnostic test, it can be difficult to differentiate a fractured kneecap from a quadriceps tendon tear.

X-rays will provide a two-dimensional image of the overall structure of your quadriceps and upper leg (pelvis, femur and knee). They are helpful in identifying instability, fractures, abnormal bone shapes (bone spurs, calcifications or cysts, joint degeneration), and/or other leg problems.

MRIs (magnetic resonance imaging) will provide more detailed information and will help to evaluate the soft tissues in and around your quadriceps (muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia, and other connective tissues). They can identify ligament or tendon damage, and can help to determine the extent of your injury, the grade of your tear, inflammation or tendinopathies, as well as other associated conditions.

CT scans (computed tomography) and ultrasounds have been also used on occasion.

An Infrared Personal Therapy system is one of the most helpful tools for a pulled or strained quadricep. Through the absorption of infrared thermal energy, tissues are safely and gently heated - increasing blood flow within the treated area. Your body's natural response to this increased temperature is to try to maintain a condition of homeostasis - a balanced environment or state of equilibrium throughout the body. To do this, your body responds with a rapid increase in blood flow to the area (this is known as vasodilation), increasing the supply of nutrients to injured cells and flushing out toxins (including lactic acid, commonly found in trigger points) to promote healing. Our Thermotex Platinum Pain Relief Device provides effective, non-invasive, non-addictive pain relief with no side effects.

Our Hot/Cold Compression Wraps are recommended as the best by the Mayo Clinic, several professional sports organizations, and countless medical professionals. That's why we sell them, because they are the best. We have noticed over time that our customers are so fond of our cold wraps that they are frequently coming back and ordering a second one - this way they can heat or cool one while wearing the other. The wraps are becoming very popular with baseball and soccer trainers, and the wraps can be conveniently stored in a cooler for quick application on the field when needed.

Ultrasound Therapy is also a helpful tool for pain prevention of a pulled hamstring, and having a portable ultrasound device at home can be a powerful and convenient treatment tool. If you have symptoms or are recovering from a hamstring injury, using ultrasound on a regular basis before your activity or throughout the day will help relax your hamstring muscles, tendons and tissues, diminish pain and inflammation, soften scar tissue and contribute greatly to the healing of your injury.

If you suffer from mild inflammation or pain after certain activities or movements use ultrasound therapy when you complete the activity and then rest and elevate your leg. Limit the application of ultrasound to a couple of treatments per day (the manual will recommend treatment frequency depending upon the injury). In between ultrasound treatments, maximize your pain relief and injury recovery by using the Thermotex Personal Therapy System. When you're on the go, and not near an electrical outlet, take advantage of the "where anywhere" concept of our hot/cold wraps - the highest rated wraps in the industry. Proven Performance, Proven Relief - only found at the MendMeShop. If you have been given a treatment plan by your health professional, make sure you adhere to it to ensure pain free living. In general, people who are committed to their therapies and exercises will have the best medical outcomes.