Injuries to the muscles of the upper leg are pretty common, especially in sports which involve sprinting or contact.
Hamstring Strain
A hamstring strain is probably the most common injury to occur in sports such as football and rugby. Sudden bursts of speed put the muscle under a lot of stress which is the most common cause of pulling a hamstring. The severity of the injury can vary greatly, from a grade one tear where up to 10% of fibres of one of the muscles are torn, up to a full rupture. For this reason, the length of time out of sport can range from 1 week to 4 months or more!
Symptoms may include:
- Sudden pain at the back of the upper leg.
- Pain usually occurs whilst sprinting.
- A sore area to touch.
- Bruising and swelling in more severe cases.
- Pain on bending the knee (especially against resistance).
More information on Hamstring Strains.
Quadriceps Strains
These are not as common as a hamstring strain but do still occur. The quads are at the front of the thigh and so pain is felt in this area. Jumping and kicking are more common culprits for this injury, especially when a thorough warm-up has not been performed.
Symptoms may include:
- A sudden pain at the front of the thigh.
- Tenderness to touch this area.
- Pain on trying to straighten the knee (especially against resistance).
More information on Quad Strains.
Contusions
A contusion is a muscular injury, which occurs due to an impact where the muscle is crushed against the underlying bone. They have also been known as a dead leg or a Charley horse and are common in contact sports such as rugby.
Symptoms include:
- Pain in the area where you were hit.
- Bruising may or may not appear.
- It may be difficult to contract the muscle which is affected.
More information on Contusions.
Visit www.sportsinjuryclinic.net for further information on these and more elbow injuries.