Clinic
INJURY CLINIC
Quadriceps strain
The quads are a sizeable muscle that you don’t always associate with niggles when running but tight hip flexors and weak glutes can lead to strains, tears or overstretches. Here’s how to avoid and rehab the issue
THE INJURY
Quadriceps strain Area affected: Front of thigh and potentially deep hip flexor region Recovery period: Two-eight weeks (can be longer if underlying cause isn’t addressed) quadriceps (or quad)
A strain refers to a tear or overstretching in one of the four muscles at the front of your thigh. It’s usually the rectus femoris, which begins at the hip and inserts to the top of your knee cap via the patella tendon. Crossing both the hip and knee joints is what makes this muscle vulnerable to injury, and a strain can range from mild discomfort when running or walking to sharp pain that stops your training completely.