ORTHOPEDICS/LEG, FOOT & ANKLE
From its name, four distinct muscles constitute the Quadriceps muscles or the Quad.
The Quadriceps muscles are a group of muscles located on the tights front.
Each of the four Quad muscles have its proper name and is located in different position on the tights front.
These names are:
- Vastus intermedius: is the deepest of the quad muscles, positioned below the other three.
- Vastus medialis: is positioned on the inner portion of the thigh and ends near the kneecap.
- Vastus lateralis: This quad muscle is positioned on the lateral or the outer portion of the thigh.
- Rectus femoris: The rectus formis is the superficial muscle on top of the thigh between the vastus medialis and the laterals.
Quadriceps Role
Sitting in a chair and straightening the knee for a little time allows you feeling the quads in action.
When the quads contract, they straighten the leg at the knee joint. Quadriceps extending over the kneecap (patella) help keeping the kneecap in its correct position in the groove at the thigh end of the thighbone.
One of the four quad muscles (the rectus femoris) crosses as well the hip joint and contributes in hip flexion or twisting up.
Quadriceps/Common Damages
Damage to the quad muscles are responsible of generating force to keep walking, running, and stair climbing.
As long as the quads maintain kneecap in the accurate position, they are subjected to recurrent stresses and shocks that can cause damage.
Quadriceps Damages include:
- Kneecap disarticulation:
Occasionally, the quad muscle tears off the bone just below the kneecap, resulting a kneecap disarticulation.
Surgery is often performed to repair the torn quadriceps.
A knee brace is eventually needed followed by physical therapy.
- Patellofemoral stress disorder:
If you have a knee pain or inflammation from a damage or if you suffer arthritis, occasionally the quadriceps stops working appropriately.
- Iliotibial band friction disorder:
An irregular rubbing of the iliotibial band causes this disorder as it crosses the lateral side of the kneecap. This occurs if the quads are weak or tight causing pain and limited flexion and in walking or running aptitude.
- Paresis and paralysis:
Your quadriceps may weakened due to spinal cord damage or stroke (neurological weakness in a muscle is a disorder called paresis).
Low back pain may be due to a pinched nerve at lumbar level (3) that may cause weakness in the quads.
Typically this serious disorder recommends immediate doctor visit.
Damaged Quadriceps/Loss of Function
The major problem that damaged Quadriceps (muscle or muscles) causes is difficulty with functional mobility.
Weakness in the quads may result in walking abnormalities necessitating a device like a cane or walker to help walking.
Physical therapy can help deciding which device is appropriate to use following a quad damage.
Performing Exercises
A quadriceps damage may require physical therapy to help improve functional mobility and to improve quadriceps strength and flexibility.
The main kinds of exercises to perform for improve the quads function include:
- Basic knee mobility exercises (quads strength and mobility).
- Stretching exercises (quads flexibility).
- Balance and proprioception: Basic balance trainings can help preventing falls; furthermore, and advanced balance trainings may be used to help treating quad damages and knee pain.
To conclude:
Feeling pain in the thigh front following a damage means that something wrong had happened to the quads.
Frequently, quad damages are easy to rehab;
Relaxation with few stretching are all it needs.
However, if a quadriceps damage is more serious and causing pain, a visit to a physical therapist may be needed to help improving the quad function.