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Quadriceps Contusion, Sports Medicine

Sarah Merrill, MD, CAQSM, Kinshasa Morton, MD, CAQSM and Jason P. Womack, MD Reviewed 04/2019
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • The quadriceps extends the knee and stabilize the pelvis and patella during the gait cycle. The muscles also work with the hamstrings to coordinate the movements of kicking, jumping,...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • Patient or athlete will often describe a distinct injury or trauma to the thigh occurring during a high-impact collision with opponent or sports equipment 1.

  • Pain is typically immediat...

TREATMENT

GENERAL MEASURES

  • RICE therapy—rest, ice, compression, and elevation to limit the severity of contusion 1,4,5:

    • Rest reduces retraction of ruptured myofibrils, preventing large gaps in the muscl...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

  • Athletes should follow up approximately every 2 wk to assess ongoing ROM and strengthening 2.

  • Serial ultrasounds can also be performed at these visits to document ...

REFERENCES

1
Kary J. Diagnosis and management of quadriceps strains and contusions. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med.  2010;3(1–4):26–31.
2
Pasta G, Nanni G, Molini L, et al. Sonography of the quadriceps ...

ADDITIONAL READING

  • Aronen JG, Garrick JG, Chronister RD, et al. Quadriceps contusions: clinical results of immediate immobilization in 120 degrees of knee flexion. Clin J Sport Med.  2006;16(5):3...

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • Quadriceps contusions are caused by blunt trauma to the quadriceps muscle belly and area graded according to size and loss of function.

  • Ultrasound is the imaging modality of choice for ...

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