The thigh bone (femur) is the longest, strongest, and heaviest bone in the human body. Covering the bone are three main groups of muscles. The quadriceps are on the front of the thigh, the hamstrings on the back, and the adductors (groin muscles) in the inner thigh. These muscles provide us with much of the strength and power we use to stand from a sitting position, walk up stairs, and run and jump. Along the outside of the thigh, we also have the strong iliotibial band which is a long tendon running from the hip to the knee.
Soreness around the thigh, a sharp pain in the thigh during activity, swelling, redness, heat, weakness or pain when stretching or contracting the thigh muscles are all possible symptoms.
Sometimes thigh or groin pain can be referred from the low back, the pelvis, or the hip joint, so we will assess these regions as well in order to identify where the pain is originating from.
We may also look at the feet and ankles as faulty alignment or muscle control can lead to rotation of the thigh bone (femur) which may place these muscles and tendons under strain.
Conservative management aims to reduce swelling and pain and restore range of movement, strength, and function.
Electrotherapy is useful in order to optimise the healing of tissues by accelerating blood flow, reducing inflammation and helping to remove waste chemicals.
A combination of hands on therapy and a selection of specific exercises is often used to allow patients to return to their usual activities. Patients wishing to return to a high level of physical function and activity such as manual work or sport will be progressed through a sequence of exercises aimed not only at the thigh, but also taking into account the core and the biomechanics of the whole body to build a foundation of strength and dynamic function.
Suffering from back pain and looking for some clear advice on how to solve it?
Subscribe now to receive your free guide.