A thigh strain is a tear to one of the quadriceps muscles at the front of the thigh. Strains are graded 1, 2 or 3 depending on how bad they are.
Grade 1
If you have a grade 1 quad strain then it may not feel bad enough to stop training at the time. You might feel a twinge in the thigh, with a general feeling of tightness. Walking may cause mild discomfort and running might be difficult. You are unlikely to have swelling, but you may feel a lump in the muscle.
Grade 2
Grade 2 symptoms are more severe than a grade two. You may feel a sudden sharp pain when running, jumping or kicking and be unable to play on. Pain will make walking difficult and you will notice swelling, or mild bruising. The pain would be felt when pressing into the muscle, particularly where it is torn. Straightening the knee against resistance is likely to cause pain and you will be unable to fully bend the knee.
Grade 3
Grade 3 symptoms consist of a severe, sudden pain in the front of the thigh. The patient will be unable to walk without the aid of crutches. Bad swelling will appear immediately and significant bruising within 24 hours. A static muscle contraction will be painful and is likely to produce a bulge in the muscle. The patient can expect to be out of competition for 6 to 12 weeks.
Assessment & diagnosis
A professional therapist will do a full assessment in order to accurately diagnose your injury. This should include:
- Questions about your general health, previous injury as well as current injury.
- Your therapist will then perform a physical assessment of the injury. This which will include observation and palpation (feeling the area),
range of motion tests and resisted muscle tests.