Quadriceps strains are frequently seen in athletes who participate in sporting activities that involve kicking, running and jumping. Football codes such as Australian rules football and soccer are among the leading sports affected by quadriceps strains. The quadriceps muscle group are among the strongest in the body, comprising of four individual muscles converging together to form the quadriceps tendon. This tendon wraps over the kneecap and inserts into the shin bone (tibia) where it is known as the patella ligament. Due to its anatomy the tendon acts as a pulley system to straighten the knee, which is the primary action of kicking. This is why we typically see quadriceps strains in athletes who kick.

The rectus femoris is the only quadriceps muscle that acts over two joints. It attaches at the front of the hip via two tendons (one superficial and one deep) which converge to form the rectus femoris muscle belly. As mentioned earlier, the rectus femoris then joins and converges with the rest of the quadriceps muscles to form the quadriceps tendon which attaches below the knee. As the rectus femoris attaches and acts over two joints, it undergoes more stress when it is activated and stretched. For this reason, the rectus femoris muscle is the most commonly injured quadriceps muscle. In data from AFL players it was shown to be affected 91.3% of the time.

The most common mechanism of injury is due to kicking (48.4%), whilst injuries due to acceleration movements like sprinting occurred close to 15% of the time. The dominant kicking leg was injured 72% of the time, which highlights how the kicking action puts strain on the quadriceps muscles. According to the data collected on AFL players, all re-injuries occurred in the rectus femoris muscle! 70% of these re-injuries occurred in the first 6 months after the initial injury, which again was primarily due to the kicking mechanism (63%). When it comes to return to sport timeframes, injuries to the rectus femoris muscle had a longer prognosis of recovery. Furthermore, injuries due to a kicking mechanism also resulted in a longer recovery time than injuries due to another cause.

These injuries should be taken seriously and be given an appropriate structured rehabilitation program. At The Reform Lab Osteopathy we will evaluate potential risk factors and will provide comprehensive rehabilitation inside the elite facilities of Project Reform. If you are struggling with quad/thigh pain and want to perform at your best, then get in touch with us and we will help.