Ask a PT

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Posted - 06/23/2007 :  01:29:44  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Our user asked: "I have an injury from playing kickball. I kicked the ball and hurt the quad muscle in my right leg. It's very sore and swollen to the point ot being firm to the touch. I tried to ice it the evening of the injury but it didn't help. Any suggestions?"

Ask a PT Response: "Sustaining a quadricep injury with kicking a ball in kickball is not uncommon given the mechanics involved. With a quadricep strain you want to avoid activities which aggravate the muscle (ie. activities which requires extension of the knee such as kicking). You were correct to ice it immediately after the injury as this helps minimize inflammation. With a quadriceps strain it is important to maintain your range of motion and strength. Exercises such as quad sets, ham sets, knee flexion/extension AROM and a GENTLE quadriceps and hamstring stretch can be performed. With stretching only a mild discomfort should be experienced (the exercises can be found under the exercise video page on the CyberPT site). If there is significant pain when stretching, then the stretch should not be performed. A hot pack could also be applied prior to performing the exercises to help relax the muscles and decrease the pain. Massage to the quadriceps could also be beneficial as well to stimulate blood flow and speedy the healing process. You should definitely see some improvement in 4-5 days. If not, definitely seek medical attention. Thanks for using CyberPT and good luck with the remainder of your kickball season."