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Quadriceps Tear, Sports Medicine

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


BASICS

Quadriceps strains are graded based on the degree of injury: 
  • Grade I: stretch injury of muscle fibers

  • Grade II: partial tearing of muscle fibers

  • Grade III: complete tear of muscle fibers:

    • Grade II...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • Strain to quadriceps muscle is most commonly associated with kicking, jumping, sprinting, or change in direction.

  • Pain is often immediate.

  • May lead to local pain and swelling

  • Strains are...

TREATMENT

GENERAL MEASURES

  • Grade I and II injuries are treated in a similar fashion with rest, ice, compression, and pain control.

  • Gentle stretching as permitted to maintain range of motion.

  • Early surger...

ONGOING CARE

Return to play: 
  • When quadriceps has 120 degrees of flexion

  • No signs of quadriceps weakness

  • May take days to months based on the degree of injury

COMPLICATIONS

  • Myositis ossificans—rare after n...

REFERENCES

1
Ibounig T, Simons TA. Etiology, diagnosis and treatment of tendinous knee extensor mechanism injuries. Scand J Surg.  2016;105(2):67–72.
2
Mendiguchia J, Alentorn-Geli E, Idoate F, et a...

ADDITIONAL READING

Kary JM. Diagnosis and management of quadriceps strains and contusions. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med.  2010;3(1–4):26–31. 

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • Quadriceps strains are common in sports with kicking and other eccentric quadriceps loads.

  • Be sure to rule out quadriceps tendon rupture by examining an intact extensor mechanism.

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