The back of the thigh consists of several muscles responsible for flexing the leg. With insufficient heating of the ligaments and at the same time contraction of the muscles of the back of the thigh, trauma can occur in the form of a sprain.
In some individual cases, the pathological process may be accompanied by a tear of the ligaments. Often, such injuries are found in athletes, however, no one is safe from such a sprain.
Hip structure
The anatomical structure distinguishes such muscles of the posterior thigh as:
With an intense load on any muscle group, severe pain, stretching, tearing, or even rupture of ligaments can occur .
Causes and features of the injury
Injury of the muscles of the back of the thigh occurs with significant load without preparation and heating. Among the main reasons why this violation occurs, there are such as:
- sharp change of position;
- deterioration of muscle tone;
- weight lifting;
- bumps and sharp collisions.
Even novice athletes need to remember that it is important to prepare the muscle system for the upcoming loads, so as not to accidentally stretch the muscles, there will not be a dislocation or tear, so that then you do not have to spend a long and expensive treatment.
Most often, injuries occur during lunges, squats, as well as swinging legs. If you experience pain during training or playing sports, you must definitely consult a doctor for advice and for an examination.
Types of injury
When the thigh muscles are injured , it can be one of such types of sprains, such as:
- trauma to the back surface;
- adductor muscle;
- front muscle.
Stretching the muscles of the back of the thigh can have very serious consequences, since in this area there is a group of muscles responsible for flexion of the leg in the knee and extension in the hip joint. Injury to this area is accompanied by intense pain.
Most often, stretching of the adductor muscle occurs, and a similar injury occurs when trying to sit on a twine without preliminary preparation, a blow to the foot or a sharp jump. Pain occurs mainly in the inguinal region.
Stretching of the anterior muscle may occur upon impact. Often such injuries affect people engaged in hand-to-hand combat or other types of wrestling. With such an injury, a tendon rupture occurs.
Severity
There are several different degrees of severity of damage to the muscles of the back of the thigh, among which it is necessary to highlight such as:
Depending on the complexity of the injury, the symptoms and clinical manifestations have a certain degree of intensity. A mild degree is considered the simplest, as the symptoms are not too pronounced. The pain of the muscles of the back of the thigh is insignificant and has a pulling character, edema appears very rarely. When walking, there is practically no discomfort. No specialized treatment in a hospital environment is required.
A moderate injury is characterized by the occurrence of more pronounced symptoms. When the muscles of the back of the thigh are torn, severe pain occurs, which is greatly amplified by movement of the leg. In addition, swelling, bruising and bruising occur, as subcutaneous hemorrhage occurs.
Rupture of the muscles of the posterior thigh refers to a severe stage. Along with this, ligaments can suffer, and sometimes nerve fibers are damaged. Symptoms are pronounced, and acute pain does not stop for a long time, even at rest. Swelling and hematomas occupy a vast area. In this case, patients require analgesia and urgent hospitalization to make the correct diagnosis and conduct adequate treatment. The treatment methods are selected individually, and the course can continue for several months.
The main symptoms
If during training there was an acute pain in the thigh area, then you should consult a doctor to prevent complications. However, if it is not possible to diagnose a sprain in a professional clinic, then you can independently detect the presence of a problem. It is worth noting that the symptoms of rupture of the muscles of the back of the thigh are quite characteristic and are expressed in:
- painful sensations;
- redness of the skin;
- swelling
- stiffness of movements;
- the presence of a hematoma.
At the most difficult stage of injury, muscle tearing and a sensation of a sudden click occur. Painful sensations can significantly increase with palpation.
A person may well move around, but his gait is clearly impaired. Any movements are accompanied by severe pain. With a complete break, the pain becomes very strong, and the person tries to limit movement.
In addition, fever and severe weakness are possible. Violation of the integrity of the muscles and ligaments of the posterior thigh may be accompanied by the fact that it is impossible to bend the leg at the knee.
First aid
If there is a suspicion of muscle tension or rupture, you should immediately begin treatment. Be sure to apply cold to the damaged area. Treatment should be started during the first days after the injury. It is worth applying a cold compress every hour and keep it for 20 minutes.
In addition, it is recommended to use cooling gels or ointments with an anti-inflammatory effect. It is necessary to apply the gel on the damaged surface with a thin layer and wait until it is completely absorbed. To prevent the spread of edema, you need to keep your foot on a hill.
It is recommended to seek the help of a doctor, since only a specialist can exclude the presence of a gap. However, if there is no such possibility and there are all
signs of stretching, then the next day after receiving the injury, ointments with a warming effect should be used. In addition, stretching should be treated with a dressing. Such treatment methods guarantee complete recovery of patients.
In case of muscle rupture, an operation must be performed that will help restore the integrity of the injured muscles by stitching them.
Diagnostics
An experienced surgeon or traumatologist can accurately determine the presence of violations during an external examination of the patient. Localization of bruising and soreness of the injured area indicate the intensity of the impact that led to the sprain.
A qualified specialist will conduct a survey to clarify all the circumstances of the injury, will flex and extend the injured leg in the joints, and also using the palpation to determine the integrity of the joints, and only then can make the correct diagnosis. In some cases, an additional examination is necessary. In addition, a possible fracture or dislocation can be ruled out using x-rays or computer diagnostics.
Treatment features
Depending on the degree of complexity of the injury, an individual treatment technique is selected. For mild to moderate severity, treatment implies providing rest to the patient and eliminating stress. Sometimes the patient is recommended to walk with support on crutches for a certain time after receiving an injury.
To eliminate painful sensations, the use of anti-inflammatory drugs will be required. Treatment of the muscles of the back of the thigh after stretching involves physiotherapy, as well as specially selected gymnastics. You must begin to perform the exercises immediately after the swelling has passed and the pain is reduced. In this case, the first exercises should be with a minimum load. Subsequently, it can be gradually increased. Physiotherapy exercises will quickly and effectively help restore the functions of the injured muscle.
The most severe degree of stretching is treated for a long time. In the event of a tear or complete rupture of the muscles, surgery is performed. It is best if the operation is carried out in the first week after the injury, since over time the muscle can contract irreversibly, and it will be very difficult to restore its original size. Subsequently, therapy also implies the implementation of physiotherapeutic procedures and the use of special exercises in therapeutic gymnastics.
Recovery period
After the treatment, it is necessary to carry out rehabilitation measures. They include procedures such as:
- physiotherapy;
- swimming;
- physiotherapy;
- massage.
The rehabilitation period largely depends on the degree of complexity of the injury, for example, with a slight muscle strain, it lasts no more than 10 days. In more complex cases, when the muscles, ligaments or tendons rupture, it may take six months to fully recover.
Preventative measures
Any person who prefers to lead an active way of life or goes in for sports should definitely observe basic safety rules, they will help prevent the likelihood of injury during training. As preventive measures, it is absolutely necessary to warm up all muscles well before exercise, and also not to overload the body.
Complications
Often after stretching, the muscles recover completely. However, depending on the degree of complexity of the injury, as well as the individual characteristics of the patient, this process can be quite lengthy.
It is worth remembering that untimely and incorrect treatment can provoke fractures, dislocations and displacement of the joints.