Thigh muscle strain (muscle pull or tear) is common across all age groups, most frequent among athletes. This injury occurs when the thigh muscles are stretched beyond natural capacity, often due to sudden or forceful movements that cause residual microscopic tears in the muscle fibres. Additionally, risk factors like muscle tightness, overuse, and fatigue may predispose you to muscle strain.

What is Thigh Muscle Strain?

The thigh comprises the hamstring, quadriceps, and adductor muscles. The quadriceps and hamstrings work together to straighten and bend the knee respectively while the adductor muscle pulls the legs together (movement called adduction). The hamstrings and quadriceps are especially prone to strains because they both span across the hip and knee joints.

It is important to differentiate between strains and sprains. Strains describe the tearing of muscles or tendons, whereas sprains refer to the stretching or tearing of ligaments that connect bones within joints. While the signs and symptoms of strains and sprains may appear similar, they affect different parts of the body.

Signs and Symptoms

Common signs and symptoms of a thigh muscle strain include:

Popping or snapping sensation as muscle tears
Sudden and severe pain
Injured area may be tender to the touch, with visible bruising if blood vessels are also affected
Swelling

The Grades of Thigh Strains

Thigh strains are classified into three degrees of severity:

First degree strain: damage to a few muscle fibres
Second degree strain: damage to a more extensive number of muscle fibres
Third degree strain: a complete rupture of the muscle itself

Treatment (RICE)

Most common method to treat muscle strain is with RICE protocol

Rest: Take a break from the activity that caused the strain and avoid putting excessive weight on the injured leg
Ice: use cold packs for 20 minutes several times a day (NOTE: not to apply ice directly on skin). This is best done within the first 6-12 hours of injury.
Compression: lightly wrap the injured muscle in soft compression bandage to prevent swelling
Elevation: elevate leg up above the level of heart to minimise swelling

As injuries heal, physical therapy can foster range of motion, build strength, improve flexibility and loosen any tight knots following injury.

Exercises and Precautions

Stretching Exercises

Warming up before any exercise session is crucial for preparing your body for intense activity. It increases blood flow, raises muscle temperature, and elevates your breathing rate. Similarly, cooling down after exercise is important. Stretch slowly and gradually, holding each stretch to allow muscles time to respond and lengthen. If you sustain an injury, it is essential to rest and allow the muscle to heal before resuming sports activities. Recovery time can vary from 10 days to 6 months, depending on the severity of the strain.

Static quadriceps stretch: Pull foot of injured leg towards your buttock as you feel a gentle stretch on the front of the thigh (Hold 20-30 seconds and repeat 3 time)

Hamstring stretch (lying down): Lie flat on your back, holding the back of your affected leg for support and lift leg towards your body till you feel a gentle stretch at the back of your thigh (Hold stretch for at least 30 seconds and repeat)

Strengthening Exercises

Incorporating strengthening exercises promotes the healing process, corrects muscle imbalances, and helps prevent future injuries. During physiotherapy sessions, we guide clients through targeted exercises like knee extensions to strengthen the quadriceps. Stronger muscles support and stabilize the knee joint, reducing the likelihood of strain recurrence.

Service We Provide

At Mobilize Physio, we specialize in treating thigh muscle strain. Our physiotherapists develop personalized rehabilitation program , which may include:

Electro Muscle Stimulation Therapy
Radio frequency & Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (RF & IASTM)
Manual Therapy
High Energy Inductive Therapy
Exercise therapy

These treatments aim to strengthen the muscles and improve range of motion, ensuring a full and effective recovery.

Recovery and Prevention

If you sustain a thigh muscle strain, it is essential to allow adequate recovery time before resuming sports or intense physical activity. Recovery can range from 10 days to 6 months, depending on the severity of the strain. Adopting proper warm-up and stretching routines, alongside a personalized strengthening program, can significantly reduce the risk of future injuries.

Thigh Strain Physiotherapy Service

Mobilize Physio is a physiotherapy center located in Hong Kong. Our team of professional physiotherapists provides high-quality, evidence-based pain treatment. Our services include sports injury treatment, pain management, post-surgery rehabilitation, and posture and body alignment correction.

Every patient is unique, and we believe that every treatment plan should be customized accordingly. Therefore, we focus on one-on-one service to ensure that each patient receives personalized attention and specialized care.

We are dedicated to helping you recover from injuries and get back to doing what you love. Contact us today to learn more about our physiotherapy services.