What Are the Symptoms and Common Causes of a Pulled Quad Muscle?
All but the most minor quad pulls are painful. Some typical symptoms of a pulled quad muscle include: • sudden, sharp pain at the front of the upper leg during exercise – most usually felt during sprinting or bursts of speed and potentially accompanied by a “popping” feeling. The quads are responsible for straightening the leg, so such motions can be quite uncomfortable. • a spasm or stiffness in the upper leg, especially felt when stretching. • swelling and tenderness • bruising in the upper leg (which indicates blood vessels have been ruptured) • overall weakness in the quadriceps • gap or irregularity in the quad muscle, which is usually the sign of some form of muscle fiber tear There are many causes for quad muscle pulls, but here are a few of the most common. • lack of flexibility in the quadriceps – even a mild force can pull a tight muscle • poor quadriceps strength • strength or flexibility imbalance between the hamstring and the quadriceps. These muscle groups work opposite o
