Quadriceps Strain

(Pulled Quadriceps)

by Cynthia M. Johnson, MA

Definition

A quadriceps strain is a partial tear of the small fibers of the large group of muscles in the front of the thigh.

The Quadriceps Muscles

Causes

The most common cause is when the muscle group is stretched beyond its normal range.

Risk Factors

This problem is more common in people who play sports, such as running, jumping, soccer, basketball, or football. Other things that may raise your risk are:

Tight quadriceps
A muscle imbalance
Weak muscles
Muscle fatigue

Symptoms

Problems may be:

Pain in the front of the thigh
Bruising and swelling
Muscle stiffness
Muscle weakness

Diagnosis

You will be asked about your symptoms and health history. You will be asked how the injury happened. A physical exam will be done. It will focus on your thigh. This is often enough to make the diagnosis.

Treatment

Most strains heal in about 3 weeks. It can take up to 6 months for a severe strain to heal. The goals of treatment are to ease pain and swelling. This may include:

Medicine to ease pain and swelling
Crutches to take weight off of the leg as it heals
Exercises to help with strength, flexibility, and range of motion

Prevention

Most strains are due to accidents. Healthy muscles may prevent some accidents. This may be done through exercise.

RESOURCES:

American Council on Exercise
http://www.acefitness.org

Family Doctor—American Academy of Family Physicians
http://familydoctor.org

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

Canadian Physiotherapy Association
http://www.physiotherapy.ca

The College of Family Physicians of Canada
http://www.cfpc.ca

References:

Derry S, Moore RA, et al. Topical NSAIDS for acute musculoskeletal pain in adults. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2015, (6):CD007402.

Eckard TG, Kerr ZY, et al. Epidemiology of quadriceps strain in National Collegiate Athletic Association Athletes, 2009-2010 through 2014-2015. J Athletic Training. 2017;52(5):474-481.

Hamstring strain. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/hamstring-strain. Updated April 30, 2018. Accessed December 9, 2019.

Muscle strains in the thigh. Ortho Info—American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Available at:
...(Click grey area to select URL)
Updated March 2014. Accessed September 7, 2017.

Wong S, Ning A, et al. Return to sport after muscle injury. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2015 Jun;8(2):168-175.

Last reviewed September 2019 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Laura Lei-Rivera, PT, DPT, GCS
Last Updated: 9/8/2020

EBSCO Information Services is fully accredited by URAC. URAC is an independent, nonprofit health care accrediting organization dedicated to promoting health care quality through accreditation, certification and commendation.

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

To send comments or feedback to our Editorial Team regarding the content please email us at healthlibrarysupport@ebsco.com. Our Health Library Support team will respond to your email request within 2 business days.