How To Treat A Pulled Hammy And Strained Quad

A muscle strain, or pulled muscle, occurs when your muscle is overstretched or torn. This usually occurs as a result of fatigue, overuse, or improper use of a muscle.

Muscle strains are categorised as Grade I, II, or III. A small strain is classified as a Grade I tear, whereas a complete rupture or tear, is classified as a Grade III tear. Grade II tears are partial ruptures or tears. Severe Grade II and Grade III tears will cause loss of normal muscle function and you will probably see bruising around the area of your injury.

Grade I Strain

After a Grade I strain, it is possible to continue use of the affected muscle or muscle group. Grade I injuries tend to be mild and they mostly fully heal. With appropriate rest and physiotherapy rehabilitation, you can reduce the healing time of your strain.

Grade II and III Strains

A Grade II or III strain will cause you severe pain and thus all activity of the muscle should be ceased to limit pain and further injury; most likely you will not be able to move the affected muscles. Grade II tears can heal with physiotherapy rehabilitation, although your healing time is going to be longer. In the case of a Grade III tear, most likely a gap has formed in the muscle fibers of the quadriceps or hamstrings, you may not be able to bend or straighten your knee. Grade III tears usually require surgery and physiotherapy rehabilitation for full recovery. 

Quadriceps strain information

A thigh strain or quadriceps strain is essentially a small tear in one of the four quadriceps muscles located the front of your thigh. Muscle strains can feel like a mild ache up to a severe pain or even result in the inability to run or walk, constricting movement of the affected muscles. A quadriceps strain can also be called a pulled quad muscle or a strained thigh.

What are the signs and symptoms that indicate one has a pulled quad muscle?

• You will feel a sudden, sharp pain at the front part of your thigh
• You will feel swelling and a bruise may form on your thigh indicating inflammation from the strain.
• You may also feel a lump or muscle spasms in your thigh

Hamstring strain information

Hamstring muscle injuries — such as a “pulled hamstring” — occur frequently in athletes.  A pulled hamstring or strain is an injury to one or more of the muscles at the back of the thigh. A hamstring strain can be a pull, a partial tear, or a complete tear. Most hamstring injuries occur in the thick, central part of the muscle called the muscle belly, or where the muscle fibers join tendon fibers.   

In the most severe hamstring injuries, the tendon tears completely away from the bone. The tendon may even pull a piece of bone away with it as it separates.

What are the signs and symptoms that indicate one has a hamstring strain?

• You will notice a sudden, sharp pain in the back of your thigh.
• You will feel swelling in the first few hours after injury.
• Bruising and discolouration may also form on the back of the leg, below the knee over the first few days.
• Weakness can also persist in your hamstring for weeks.

In the case of a Grade III tear, most likely a gap has formed in the muscle fibers of the quadriceps or hamstrings, you may not be able to bend or straighten your knee.

Common causes for quad strain and hamstring strain

A quadriceps strain or hamstring strain are common during running or jumping movements, especially during sudden movements or if you are starting and stopping quite suddenly, which can occur in some sports. However, you could just as easily pull your quadriceps or hamstrings while weightlifting, working out in your garden or falling over into a hole.

What will increase your risk of straining your quadriceps muscle or hamstring muscles?

You will increase your risk of straining any muscle by not warming up adequately before you run or exercise 

Hip flexor or quadriceps muscle tightness can increase your risk of muscle strain. Poor muscle recruitment and activation or weakness in your gluteal or buttock muscle will overload your quadriceps predisposing you to injury.

In the case of hamstring strains, muscle imbalance from an overdeveloped quadriceps muscle leads to a faster rate of fatigue and higher chance of injury. Muscle overload is the largest cause of hamstrings strains, so weak and poorly developed ones will buckle under the stress of the stronger quadriceps.  Focus on stretching and strengthening the hamstrings to reduce risk of injury.

Pushing yourself too quickly, e.g. running too fast when you haven’t trained for the activity or intensity; performing exercises that your quadriceps muscles are not used to or haven’t performed previously; overtraining and not allowing proper time for rest and healing.

Contact us today to enquire about an appointment. Call 8212 4886 or book online for an assessment from one of our qualified and highly experienced physios.

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