Symptoms of a Pulled Quadricep

Symptoms are really dependent on the severity of your injury, however the most common ones are noted below.

A sharp pain or pulling may be experienced at the trigger point or site of the strain or tear, which can radiate along the length of your quadriceps up to your hip and pelvis, and/or down through your knees.

You will feel tightness, tenderness and/or muscle spasms in your quadricep muscle after and acute injury or during active and resistive movements. Point tenderness may also be present, especially when touched. If you have a chronic injury, you may feel more of a dull ache that lasts for long periods of time.

Pain experienced in the quadriceps muscles is unique in each muscle:

Rectus femoris pain

Pain is felt in the middle and above your kneecap, although the trigger point for this pain is experienced in front of your hip, therefore pain can radiate up your thigh; this pain is aggravated when walking down hills or stairs.

Vastus medialis pain

Pain is felt on the inner side of knee and kneecap and can radiate up the mid-inner thigh; this muscle is often responsible for a buckling knee and for pain experienced during growing pains.

Vastus intermedius pain

Pain starts mid-thigh and radiates to your upper thigh or the front of your hip area, especially when walking up hills or stairs; it can cause difficulty straightening your leg after sitting for long periods.

Vastus lateralis pain

Pain starts on the outside of your knee and can radiate as high as your hip or as far down as your calf; it often feels like your kneecap isn't working quite right, as it can pull your kneecap and lock your knee. It is the main cause of growing pains in kids legs and is painful in adults.

You may experience stiffness or decreased range of motion (ROM), such as difficulty fully flexing your knee, or stretching your thigh. Tightness in your rectus femoris muscle can pull your pelvis forward creating a sway back and causing hyperextension in your knee. This is very common in gymnasts, ballerinas and soccer players.

Swelling in your quadriceps muscles is a result of your tissues becoming inflamed; this normally occurs just above or below a more severe quadriceps strain or tear. Warmth and redness may accompany swelling in severe cases. You may also feel a gap, dent, bulge or thickening in your muscle or tendon that is not normally present.

Weakness or complete loss of function of your quadriceps muscle can also be experienced as a result of a quadriceps strain. This along with your other symptoms may make it difficult for you to walk or run and can result in you walking with a limp.

Occasionally, bruising (broken blood vessels) and discoloration (black, blue and/or purple) over your quadriceps muscle may appear immediately or after a few days with severe quadriceps strains. Calcification of the muscle of tendon can also occur.

Grinding and crackling (crepitus) in your knee can result from improper tracking of your kneecap.

A popping or snapping sensation on the front of your thigh can often be heard and felt when your quadriceps muscles are tearing. This doesn't happen very often.

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.