Re-occuring Thigh Muscle Injury

[blue87]

Hello,

Last April I tore (grade 2) my thigh muscle when volleying a ball playing football. I went through a lot of physiotherapy after it and my physio was confused to see that I wasn't in any pain when pressure was applied to the tear during massaging. (The physio had to get two different opinions to make sure he wasn't missing it). He said he had never experienced anything like this before. The only time I fealt it was when the pysio stretched it for me. Anyway, 3 weeks later I went through a lot of physiotherapy to try and get back before the end of the season, but unfortunately I felt it go again in training. How, it never fealt as bad as the first time.

After consulting with my physio I decided to take 4 weeks rest doing absoloutely nothing except from stretching.

Saturday was the first day back for pre-season and everything was going fine until we were doing 80 yard sprints. I fealt what I can only describe as a clicking sensation in my thigh, although there wasn't any pain I stopped training immediately. It just stiffened up quickly after it happened. It is thought that it was just the scar tissue tearing but I would like to kow if this is common as I can't find anything online about this. I have also been told that I should start strengthening my thigh now in order to improve my situation.

Sorry for the long post but I am getting very frustrated and confused and I need as much help as I can get!

What do you guys think?

Thanks in advance!

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[Musculoman]

Hay Blue
Its is rare that I write a short post but here we go. (P.s. I am going to assume your physio has had another look, assessed your leg and it is his opinion it is scar tissue?)

If you have local scarring in a muscle bulk there are a few things you can do to improve the situation.

1. Stretch (you are doing this already )
2. Exercise the muscle into increased muscle ranges (inner, middle and outer range). So... a simple example might be squats. Start doing static squats against a wall (ball behind your back). Start with small squats (so your knees are @ about 45 degrees at their lowest point), you want to do these controlled etc. but fairly quickly to keep them semi-functional for return to sport. (Don't do a hold @ the bottom, unless you get discomfort from the quick change in direction) Slowly progress this so you are going deeper and deeper.

Once you are @ approx 90-100 degrees at your knees, doing 30 squats with nil symptoms, 3 sets, then move to static squats away from the wall, then add some weight (dbells/bar) then start on single leg squats no weight , etc etc. every time you add a component, start @ 45 degrees again, and work the exercise down to 90 degrees symptom free over time.

3. Some more functional exercises may be: butt kicks, high knees, etc. starting @ a low intensity and working up.

Basically, the more you RANGE your muscle belly during functional activities and exercise the more it will help to reduce your local scarring. (if you don't understand this concept let me know I will explain it out more, just wanting to keep this semi-short, already doing a horrible job @ that)

I am not sure exactly where you are currently @ in terms of Symptoms etc so I can't give you a program to try off the bat. If you give me some more information of some current exercises etc and how you tolerate them, I might be able to

Always warm the muscle up if you can and start low key and build up during your ex. programs when you have local scarring to decrease reinjury.

Sorry, no journal articles etc. all off the top of my head there, if you want some light reading let me know I am sure I can find some.

Thanks!

Musculoman

[blue87]

Hey, thanks for the reply.

Yeh the physio thought it was scar tissue because I wasnt in any pain.

Last night i was able to do some long distance running last night, I tried to do some 3/4 speed running, which fealt fine. However, I fealt I was favouring my hurt thigh and my running technique (my right knee wasnt coming up as high as my left knee). I don't know if this is physcological or it would actually hurt when I brought it up.

I was planning on starting a leg press work out to try and strengthen my thigh. Is this a good thing to do as well as squats?

I think I understand what you mean regarding exercise to reduce scar tissue. Is it because the exercise stretches it out?

Is what I am going through fairly normal?

The things I have been able to do pain free so far are:

1. Long distance running (quicker speed than a jog, maybe 1/2 speed).
2. 3/4 speeed running over 60 yards.
3. Squats (haven't added weights to the exercise, will do this at the gym today).
4. Leg extensions.
5. Leg presses.
6. I can pass a ball with the instep of my foot pain free (I was able to do this pain free after I initially tore it but I aggrevated it when stretching to kick aball)

Thanks for your help, I really appreciate it. I was beggining to get extremely frustrated with it!

Cheers