Thigh Injuries

The thigh is defined as the area between the pelvis and buttocks and the knee. It contains a single bone which is called the femur. The bone is extremely strong and very thick. It inserts into the ball and socket joint of the hip at the top and the knee joint at the bottom.

In addition to the femur, the thigh is made up of three sets of muscles. In the back of the thigh are the hamstring muscles; in the front, the quadriceps muscles; and on the inside of the thigh are the adductor muscles. All three muscles play a fundamental role in walking, running, squatting and jumping. The quadriceps muscles and hamstring muscles work together to straighten and bend the leg. The adductor muscles are what allow the legs to pull together and move laterally.

The hamstring and quadriceps are at a greater risk of injuries because they are used heavily in high-speed activities, in particular track and field events. Other sports such as football, basketball, and soccer also put a lot of strain on these muscles.

There are several simple things that an athlete can do to prevent injury to the thighs. Warming up prior to any sort of exercise prepares the muscles for physical activity and can help increase speed and endurance. Be sure to include stretches, and stretch slowly and gradually. Stretching allows the muscles to lengthen and facilitates blood flow. Always follow an exercise program that is compatible with your age and fitness level so as not to over exert yourself and increase your chances of injury.

If a thigh injury does take place, the muscle must heal completely before returning to sports or other physical activities. Recovery time for a thigh injury depends on the type and severity of the injury and can range take anywhere from as short as a week to as long as six months.

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