rectus femoris strain

[jackdavis]

I have a similar rectus femoris tear to the one in the picture on your website. I am wondering if you can give any outcome info for that injury, or put me in touch with the person who had that injury. My doc says there is nothing that can be done and I am trying to learn all I can on my own.

Thank You,
Jack

[injuryupdate]

Not sure what sport you play, but this tends to be a bigger problem in kicking sports like soccer players. The vast majority of people who get even a big divot in their rectus femoris after a strain find it becomes completely painless after time and doesn't give any problems with kicking, even though the cosmetic deformity lasts for life. There are plenty of professional football players with something similar that can continue their career. Since the divot is only present after a contraction it is not something to worry about when lying on the beach.

If there is chronic pain from the rectus femoris which restricts ability to play sport (lasting 6-12 months +) it is usually causes by some entrapped scar tissue, and occasionally a cortisone injection or minor surgery can help.

[jackdavis]

Thank You,

I have seen this injury in friends as well (smaller divot, when quad
is flexed). Mine is larger and noticable when not flexed, but much more
pronounced when flexed. I'm thinking I had a partial tear at patellar
tendon and the muscle retracted up, or a tear midbelly, or a
herniation midbelly. I continued to train through pain until it got much worse and the lump and larger divot developed. The injury was 4 years ago. Now I have hip problems, an often numb leg and considerable pain in my hip, thigh, knee and even in my heel.
I saw the picture under quad injuries on your website and wondered what happened to that guy and if he was able to treat his injury.

also, I am unable to open the pdfs or video on quad injuries. Is
there an alternate download site.

I appreciate your response. A forum like this is very helpful!!

[injuryupdate]

This doesn't sound great, but also doesn't sound like the typical pain of a chronic quad tear. In most people the divot, over time, becomes a cosmetic issue only and is non-painful. The divot usually occurs after a mid belly rectus femoris strain (half to 2/3rds of the way down the thigh), whereas the rectus strains causing chronic pain are usually a bit higher. However the pain is well-localised to the middle of the thigh. A rectus strain would not be expected to give pain below the knee and definitely not numbness in the heel. This sounds like a nerve entrapment somewhere (a slipped lumbar disc is usually the culprit for pain and numbness over a wide area). I would suggest another consult with a doctor, with a view to perhaps a CT scan or MRI scan of your lumbar spine to see whether you have slipped disc pinching a nerve. When presenting to the doctor, concentrate on the symptom that is stopping you from playing (e.g. pain, and not just in the quad) and numbness.

With respect to .pdf files, you need the Acrobat reader program, which can be downloaded for free using the link on the Injuryupdate front page. Then you can open all .pdfs. The videos on the quad page need the Winzip program as well, which can also be downloaded for free elsewhere on the web.

[jackdavis]

thanks for the information!

As a followup. It's not that I can't unzip or read pdfs, It's that the links appear inactive. I've tried it for a number of days thinking the server may be down.

Also, the picture on your website, which shows the guys thigh, is what I'm refering to. Its on the same page as the other quad strain info. I am curious what his diagnosis, treatment and outcome were. I feel mine is similar to it.

thanks again, you have a great site!!

[injuryupdate]

Thanks for the tip. I finally checked all of the links for the quads papers and they were all "broken links". Now hopefully repaired and you can download the files and videos for lots of interesting reading!

With respect to the patient, this is one of the few photos that I have taken from a doctor not associated with the site, so I don't know the patient or his outcome. Definitely the occasional patient needs rectus femoris surgery for chronic pain in the quads, but the divot itself if painless should be left alone. Any symptoms below the knee are due to a different injury. The femoral nerve, which supplies the quadriceps, finishes at the knee, so a symptom like heel numbness must be due to a different problem than the rectus femoris injury.

[Unregistered]

Hi. 2 years ago I accidentally got in the way of a lacrosse ball which was shot by the best shooter on our team. The ball snapped part of my rectus femoris and so when I contract my quad it bulges outta my leg like it's its job!

No real pain after all this time. I still play on the team, and still have all the quickness I originally had. It's a sweet party trick - all the fine honeys love it.

I got it misdiagnosed by my university's sports doc initially as a herniating muscle, but after seeing a specialist he confirmed it was indeed severed.

If you just discovered this on your leg, don't fret. Its been over two years and I'm still going strong!

Great site, by the way!

Mark
Trinity University TX

[Unregistered]

HI, i've been getting alot of soreness in my quads the morning after training and the other week i went to kick a ball the day after training and i felt a really sharp pain in my quad which lasted the day. this keeps happening quite regularly, can u help??

[Tal]

Hello, I have had a chronic inflammation of what was diagnosed as the rectus femoris (the tendon that attaches to my hip anyway) and it all began when I did too much running and sprinting. The pain has been real bad (it got worse with every episode) and it was located around my hip bone, in the top part of the groin, and during the current and worst occasion, my leg and even outer thigh and buttock too)

The thing is I am an Israeli, and seems like sports medicine isnt too advanced around here, because both the orthopedics I went to just told me to rest and take advil/etopan.

I was really hoping for a more detailed plan of how to get back to normal (without fearing a recurrence of this very painful situation).

I had stopped running during my last episode and had only swam and cycled for the 3 months afterwards- but the inflammation returned.

how much time should I rest and do no excercise????

what type of excercise is best?(I thought spinning would be good, but there is a lot standing up in the bike there, so maybe not, also the doctor said breast stroke swimming wasnt too good either because of the extensive movement of the hip joint)

what can I do other than take pills (and do I have to?)- can I massage the area? maybe use special creams for muscle pain?

Hope you can help:)
thanks much

Tal

[riz_piero]

I think I have the same injury, which is the rectus femoris. It is the muscle located above the knee cap right? I have been having on and off pains for quite some time now. The pain come and goes without warning. I do not even know when will the pain come. It will come even when I did nothing physical like running or sports. When it comes, it is quite a hassle. I can bend my knee but it will be painful. Can anybody help and tell me more about my injury? Thanks alot.

[kgm316]

I have torn my rectus femoris twice at each end. First in the hip and 2nd at the insertion point half way of my femur, you can fit a ping pong ball in it and it looks bad but doesnt affect me anymore, when I flex the mucles sticks out and looks huge. When I did it it was a pop, felt like being hit with a ball in the leg.

[tommalins]

Hi Everyone,
A lot of this rings true to me also. I'm a runner and I play rugby. 2 years ago i had a lot of pain over the anterior aspect of the right thigh - associated with increased kicking activity. I stopped in the season break and it has settled down with occasional twinges if i increased my kicking frequency/intensity rapidly.
However, more recently i have had a problem running - which i would appreciate any help with..
Whilst training for a marathon i experienced medial middle third thigh pain which was very gradual in onset but it's intensity increased until i had to stop running and cancel my marathon :-( !
Other symptoms were:
1- pain while resting my leg off a table of chair (was worried re: stress fracture..)
2- pain predominantly in the load-baring phase of running
3 - pain not easily localisable. ranging from medial thigh to anterior, to patellar.
4 - Associated with medial tibial stress syndrome

The quads are not tender and the only abnormality is my ?old/recurrent rectus tear.
I'm a medical student, so i have been trying to find out what couold be causing this, but coming up pretty confused.
Anyone recognise this?
Cheers,
Happy training all!
Tom

[Eagle8]

Hi Can anyone help give advice or have heard of a similar case.

My son is 13 he is left footed he is a very good soccer player and can hit the ball exceptionaly
hard. For two years he has been suffering from whats sounds like Rectus femoris strain. The pain originally started about six inches above his left knee but has since moved up to nearer his hip and groin.

I have had his left leg MR scanded nothing was noticed ( thay could have missed it!) He has had osteopathic treatment Acupuncture sports massage and seen a specialist sports doctor. Also six weeks daily treatment with LIPUS ultrasound.

The general diagnosis is an overuse injury of the Rectus femoris.

There is no obvious deformity of either thigh.

Funnily enough he did hit the ball very hard for a long time each day so this I could understand except the problem has also started in his right leg, which he never used much!

He can run jump trampoline etc but if he kicks a ball hard his pain returns which he dicribes as sharp.

Any advice? A similar case? How long did it take to resolve?

Many thanks

Tony.

[jame78]

Did you ever find out how to help this injury? My son has a tear, shown on an MRI

[soccer12]

Hello,
I am 18 and have been playing soccer probably about since 1st grade. In May of 2005 i was playing soccer in my backyard and kicked a ball as far as i could with my left foot. I noticed some pain but not until i actually started playing school soccer that august did i feel it again. It has been a problem for me since. I had an MRI and found out that i have a 3 inch tear in my Rectus Femoris. I've done intense rehab to try and make it better in the offseasons but I have missed some of every soccer season since, due the the reoccuring pain. Everyone is different but all i can say is rehabing it and adjusting your programs accordingly as you feel better and more comfortable is the way to go! Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation are always important. For me, i can feel great starting a season and just playing the ball awkwardly can start it all over again. So know that "twinge" of pain, stop, and take care of it accordingly, the worst thing is to keep playing and make it worse. Take care of yourself.
Kathryn

[omar1987]

hi everyone, i am a 19 year old medical student from the UK; during football training back in march, on a cold night i tried to sprint without properly warming up. i felt 3 really sharp 'clicks' in my anterior thigh....i have had cramps and things before so i knew this was worse. i have been told i have a partial tear of my rectus femoris on my right leg. my main worry is the disfigured appearance of my leg; i have a bulge when ever i contract my thigh, and it is really noticeable. i dont have too much pain now, but i am worried about the time it is taking to heal. i would just like to know if anyone has experienced anything similar, and if they too played football (soccer) and how quickly they were able to get back on the field after it happened, just to put my mind at ease a little.

thank you for your time

Omar

[Freak]

I am learning to live with a complete rupture of my Left Rectus Femoris which was only discovered through MRI approximately 6-8 weeks ago. I do have a minor divot like most with this or similar condition. My Sports Physician gave me 2 options.
1. Surgery to re-attach
2. Rehab to strengthen the surrounding muscles to compensate for the completely ruptured, never to be repaired tendon

Due to my age of 33 and moving out of top class competitive sport I have decided to attempt rehab VS surgery initially, and so far so good.

I was informed Surgery would be painful with a 3-6 month "no playing" recovery (similar to ACL reconstruction) as you lose your quad through no use and need to basically rebuild it.

The rehab has been tough with a lot of work on muscle endurance and strength, but so far so good and although I will never get 100% strength back to my ball striking capacity or 100% speed I believe it will be close enough at my age. I am in no major pain but do have very mild discomfort, however this is more my body (and head) getting use to not having one of my tendons attached to the Knee.

I hope this helps others as I enjoy hearing other similar stories.

[injuryupdate]

Links to some Quadriceps strain injury videos:

http://www.injuryupdate.com.au/images/videos/Video1LeftRFstrainkicking.mpg

[bob-b]

Like a few others who have written in to this forum I have ruptured my Rectus Femoris. I did it while coaching my Under 16 league team, showing them how us old "toe-poke" goal kickers used to do it. (I am 54 and should have known better!) I have the appropriate large lump in my thigh and though it is relatively painless I get discomfort when squatting and when swimming.
My doctor told me that nothing much could be done as it was "a bit like cutting of your thumb, once it's done, that's it!"
My worry is what will happen in the future. Will it cause general weakness or wasting in my leg, and will it cause hip problems?
I believe the surgery involved is quite considerable and would like to know whether physio will help.
All comments appreciated

[hillzy]

Hi, All. I've been reading your responses and wanted to add a little rehab and prevention info. I recently tore both my rectus femoris muslces in one week, but at different times - getting up off the ground. I am fairly active, but not an "athlete." I ride my bike round-trip to work every day and work out at the gym, swim, yoga, etc.
I have the divot only in my left leg and a large swollen area on that leg also, but the right leg is normal looking, just painful. I have no pain when walking or doing stairs, but excruciating pain from stupid things like stubbing my toe or tripping on something. My doc. said each time I feel the sharp pain, I'm tearing it a little more. He also said it will take 6-8 weeks for total recovery and that this injury needs to be taken very seriously if you want normal functioning after.
My PT thinks she has figured out why this happened. I am very flexible and strong and we don't notice any imbalances between muscle groups, so... we narrowed it down to overuse. I am a kindergarten teacher. All the chairs in my room are very tiny. I am up and down out of those chairs more times than I can count in a day and up and down off the floor more than that. My PT thinks the extreme angle of the position over and over every day is my problem.
Since most of you injured yourself while playing a sport, I wanted to let you know about my injury so you could look at your habits and other motions during the day that could be adding to your problem.
Good luck!

[Swampy]

Hey, I was playing football 17 days ago went to shoot and caboom - felt a massive tear in my thigh with lots of pain. It was misdiagnosed as a grade two tear but was confirmed today via ultrasound as grade 3 - total separation of the femoris (rather a disconcerting picture on the ultrasound!). I'm a pretty active marathon runner which I'd like to continue. My consultant seems to be against surgery to re-attach the muscle. I was surprised but reading some of these posts it seems you can be pretty active with your femoris in 2 parts! Has anyone had the operation? Take care, Chris.

[Coleman]

Hello, I have some major problem with my m. rectus femoris. The injury happened 5 weeks ago. I shoot the ball with my inner side of the right foot on the soccer pre-match warm up. I heard two definite sharp clicks in the upper part of thigh of the right leg. I couldn’t continue to the game, because of sharp pain when I tried to run fast. But my team doctor said it was not the hard strain and I should go on training. After two weeks of such torture training I decided to give it up. I took the ultrasound scanning and it showed a 6 cm. m. rectus femoris strain. Doctor advised the conservative treatment.

After 3 weeks there were no positive results. So I decided to consult with doctor again. He indicated, that I should undergo surgery, because I wouldn’t be able to show any soccer performance without rectus femoris completely active. No rehab and other muscles can compensate rectus femoris absence.

Doctor explained the process of treatment as so. He will do the surgery and reattach rectus femoris back to the hip with the help of the screw. Then I need to wear special frame (in order the muscle to be in relaxed state) for up to 2 months. Then there will be 2 months of rehabilitating physiotherapeutic procedures. And 2 months of jogging and muscle workout. This is total of +- 6 months for the full recovery and return to the pitch.

I’m 21 years old, and I need to get back my 100% speed and shooting. The surgeon is going to take advice from his colleagues in Germany and Austria (I’m from Ukraine) on this matter. And if everything is confirmed I will get the surgery next week.

[Pav]

hi people out ther, i injured my rectus femoris about 2 years ago, any jarring by kicking a ball causes hoffic pain. It looks like im going in for surgery to remove scar tissue in the next month or so. Will i be able to run after 1month rehab , ride or swim because i really need to maitain my fitness program or i become very stressed.

[Coleman]

I started to run approximately 1 month after surgery. Now 2 months have passed after reattaching, my rectus femoris is in good condition (doesn't hurt and is pretty strong), but my doctor still doesn't allow me to play soccer (kick the ball). Says it is in order to form a reliable scar in the reattached muscle. I perform all physical training except for the kicking ball. Waiting for the doctor's decision to let me on the field.

[Ched]

Approx 8 weeks ago I felt and heard a large POP in my right quad. It is only now that an ultrasound has been conducted and the result of which is a very obvious complete Rectus Femoris rupture (the lump in the top of my leg and the hole in the middle I thought gave it away). My doctor has refered me to a surgen, but before I go I am trying to get some more info on the surgery. I am 36 years old and not playing any top level sports; however, I have young children and planning another one in the next few years. My concern is that if I dont get it surgically repaired, what will be the risk to my knee and other supporting muscles over time? If anyone has had the surgery (or not), can you please let me know of the good/bad things and how the recovery has been?

Thanks

[hgnarroway]

Hey guys. I suffered a rectus femoris tear back when i was 16 and trialing for the school athletics team. As it was really competitive I kept training and competing (very bad idea) and after weeks of rest, developed the infamous 'divot' or bunching that everybody describes. In my case, I can feel the abnormality almost all the time but I've gotten used to it.

Compared to my knee reconstruction for a ruptured ACL, it has had little effect on my strength and speed - I can run low 11's for 100m. I only ever experience pain after a heavy lifting session or a game of footy, but it's not so bad. The knee reco on the other hand took a solid 18 months of rehab to reach former speed/strength in that leg and it still feels 'plastic' in there - not natural at all.

My advice to everyone is active recovery (jogging etc) and once the pain subsides, engage in plenty of strengthening exercises such as squats and lunges. Anatomically, the quads are just that - 4 large anterior leg muscles converging on the patella, so the body is more than able to compensate for the loss of one.

Hope this helps.

[hgnarroway]

In follow up, I have noticed a lot of talk about surgery for a rectus femoris rupture. Is this possible 4 or 5 years down the track from the injury? and what are the likely outcomes from the procedure (ie: loss of strength, time to recover, long term complications etc)?

If anyone has any info that'd be great