Introduction
Pain in the back of the thigh can have numerous causes and varies in its severity and pain quality. Temporary signs of overstrain or injury are common causes, but often there are also complaints due to muscular imbalances or wear and tear. Some pains are harmless and only of short duration, but some are also symptoms of diseases requiring treatment that must be taken seriously.
In addition to the duration and intensity of the pain, the quality of the pain is the most important indicator of the diagnosis. It describes the character of the pain, i.e. whether it is sharp or dull, localized or radiating. The course of the accident is often also important for finding a diagnosis, especially in the case of injuries.
The following are some common causes of pain in the rear thigh. Many athletes are affected by pain in the back of the thigh, which is usually caused by the muscles. The hamstring is located at the back of the thigh and consists of three muscles, the semitendinosus, the semimembranosus and the biceps femoris.
All muscles are responsible for bending the knee joint and stretching the hip. In sports, the hamstring is put under a lot of strain, especially when sprinting and jogging, which is why injuries and overstrain symptoms often occur here. If a sports injury has occurred, it is usually important to interrupt the sporting activity.
It is also important to cool the affected area immediately. Furthermore, the thigh should be bandaged and elevated under slight pressure to prevent swelling. These measures are summarized in the so-called PECH rule, which can be applied to many minor sports injuries, where PECH is an acronym that stands for
- P- Take a break
- E- Applying ice
- C- Compression
- H- high bearing
Especially running beginners often have to struggle with pain in the back of the thigh because the muscles are poorly trained.
Overstraining not only causes damage to the musculature, but can also overstrain the tendons, which can lead to irritation of the tendons and ultimately to tendonitis in the thigh. It is often helpful to perform specific strengthening exercises for the back of the thigh and to stretch the muscles. It is important, however, that this thigh pain is distinguished from an injury that requires an interruption of strain.
The strain of the rear thigh is one of the most common sports injuries. It often occurs in sprinters or soccer players, for example. A strain often occurs when you suddenly make fast and powerful movements during sports without having warmed up properly, or when you overstrain your muscles during sports and the tired muscles lack the strength to withstand the strain without damage.
The pain of a pulled muscle increases during the sporting effort, a burning sensation develops in the muscle, which is most noticeable in tension and pressure. At rest, one usually has no or very little pain. If a strain has occurred in the rear thigh, the sporting activity should be stopped and the PECH rule should be followed.
In the case of a pulled muscle, the exercise should be paused until the muscle no longer hurts, which can take a few days. During this time, however, it is advisable not to keep the affected thigh completely still, but to make slight movements. This will promote healing of the pulled muscle.
A torn muscle fibre is caused by the fact that the individual muscle fibres can no longer withstand the pull exerted on the muscle and as a result tear. This is accompanied by swelling and bruising in the affected muscle. A rupture of muscle fibers in the rear thigh occurs primarily during sports that require strong braking or acceleration and thereby place great strain on the hamstring in the rear thigh.
Sprinting and playing soccer are also examples of such sports. If a torn muscle fiber occurs, a sudden stabbing pain occurs in the affected muscles. The pain is so severe that the athlete is forced into a relieving position and cannot use the muscle any more.
The athletic strain must be stopped immediately to prevent further damage. Usually, however, it is not possible for the athlete to continue the strain anyway.The first self-treatment should now begin as soon as possible, based on the PECH rule. The healing of a torn muscle fibre takes longer than that of a pulled muscle and can take several weeks.
If the muscles of the back of the thigh have suffered a torn fiber, they will heal with scarring. Scarred muscles are potentially more at risk of rupturing a muscle fibre again. To avoid this, the hamstring should be carefully and carefully strengthened after the tear has healed and warmed up well before exercise.
It is very important not to re-stress too soon after the injury, as a muscle that has not yet healed can easily tear again. Muscle contusions are caused by strong blows to the muscles. Especially in contact sports, but also in other activities, the muscles of the back thigh can be bruised by a blow.
In this case, a bruise between the muscle fibers results from the great force applied. Swelling and muscle hardening can also occur. Like the torn muscle fiber, a bruise is very painful and is accompanied by a significant restriction of movement of the affected leg.
The PECH rule also provides good guidance for initial treatment in the case of bruising. It is important that the harmless muscle contusion is distinguished from a fracture, as the symptoms are often similar. An X-ray can provide information about the bone conditions.
A contusion is a long-lasting injury that often causes thigh pain even after weeks. It is important for the healing process that the affected muscle is not stressed again too early. If you have put more strain on your muscles than you usually do, you may suffer from sore muscles.
Sore muscles are more likely to occur if you have performed sudden movements. The back of the thigh is often affected by sore muscles, and the muscles are often poorly trained due to sedentary activities. The pain usually occurs one day after the exercise.
It is caused by cracks in the Z-disks, these are separations that separate individual contractile units on a cellular level. These cracks cause swelling and inflammation, which is perceived as pain. If a sore muscle has occurred, it helps to warm and gently massage the affected muscles, thus stimulating the blood circulation and speeding up the healing process.
In general, sore muscles occur less often if a good warm-up phase is carried out before the sport and the muscle groups are strengthened. A Baker’s cyst describes a bulging of the knee joint capsule located in the rear knee joint. A cyst is a cavity filled with fluid.
A Baker’s cyst is usually conspicuous by a swelling in the hollow of the knee and can cause a feeling of pressure or pain when walking or kneeling down, which can partially radiate into the lower leg. The cause of a Baker’s cyst is usually pathological changes in the knee joint, which can be caused by (sports) accidents or diseases such as arthrosis or meniscus lesions. If a Baker’s cyst is caused by overloading during sports, it is important to take care of the body.
For example, running or jumping sports should be avoided for a while. Inflammation of the tendons of the ischium often occurs after unusual or excessive physical strain. In particular, tendon inflammation often occurs when the leg flexor muscle (M. biceps femoris) is overstressed.
This muscle is located on the back of the thigh and is responsible for stretching the leg backwards in the hip and rotating it outwards and bending it in the knee. This means that in all sports or exercises in which these movements – especially the external rotation and the extension of the leg backwards in the hip – are performed, tendonitis on the ischium can cause pain in the back thigh and buttocks. Pain may also manifest itself in the rear thigh that is not due to overloading or injury.
Due to a predominantly sedentary occupation, most people have weakened muscles in the back of the thigh and lumbar spine. This leads to a deterioration in statics and, as a result, to increased hollow back formation and instability, which can be associated with back problems. These in turn can cause radiating pain into the back of the thigh.
If there is a herniated disc in the lumbar spine, it is common for pain to radiate into the rear thigh.This is due to the fact that herniated discs usually occur in the lowest area of the lumbar spine, namely at the level of the L4/5 or L5/S1 segment. The pain radiates into the entire rear thigh and often extends over the calf and into the foot. In addition to sensitivity disorders, the muscles can also be weakened.
If this is accompanied by uncontrolled loss of urine or stool or paralysis, a doctor should be consulted quickly, as in this case the bulging disc can cause lasting damage to the nerves if treatment is not started quickly. In general, herniated discs of the lumbar spine should always be diagnosed and treated by a doctor. There are numerous possibilities, ranging from conservative therapy, which includes painkillers and physiotherapy, to various surgical treatment options.
If the sacroiliac joint, which connects the ilium and sacrum in the pelvis, is blocked, pain in the buttocks occurs. In the course of this, the gluteal muscles often tense up and press on the sciatic nerve. This causes the pain to radiate into the back of the thigh.
ISG blockages are more common in women. If ISG blockages are more frequent, the gluteal muscles and the muscles of the back of the thigh should be strengthened. In addition to a herniated disc of the lumbar spine, incarcerations in the area of the nerve exit point at the spinal column can also lead to severe pain.
If the rear thigh is also affected, the sciatic nerve is usually pinched. This can be caused by a slipped disc in the lumbar spine, but also by inflammation of the nerve root. Pain can also occur in the rear thigh due to muscle tension in the lumbar spine or gluteal muscles.
In cruciate ligament surgery, in which the cruciate ligament is replaced by the body’s own tendon (autologous cruciate ligament plastic surgery), pain in the rear thigh may occur after the operation. The tendon used to reconstruct the cruciate ligament is usually the tendon of the semitendinosus muscle, which runs from the inside of the knee up into the rear thigh. Therefore, so-called wound pain can occur after the operation.
Sufficient rest for about one week and a structured exercise therapy, whereby the load is gradually increased, should be observed. If there is a palpable dent in the back of the thigh and in addition to pain, a feeling of tension and an inability to stretch the thigh backwards in the hip or to bend the leg in the knee due to pain, a torn muscle fibre can be the cause. In some cases, a large hematoma may be visible on the rear thigh.
A rupture of a muscle fiber results in a rupture of individual or numerous muscle fibers, usually after a heavy load. The fibers often tear when the tendons or muscle fibers were already under strain and inflamed. A bruise (haematoma) can occur with any injury to the thigh.
An impact or fall can cause bruising and pain in the back of the thigh. A torn muscle fibre can also be accompanied by a bruise. This often results in a palpable dent in the musculature.
A bruise is painful under pressure and changes color from red to dark red-violet-blue-black to dark green and finally to yellow-brown. In most cases, the hematoma disappears again after one to two weeks. If, in addition to the pain in the back of the thigh, a numbness or tingling sensation occurs, the problem usually originates in the spine and the lower back muscles.
Lumbago in the lumbar spine, where the muscles, which are usually already tense or untrained, suddenly contract and tense up, can irritate the nerves that supply the muscles in the back of the thigh. This can lead to tingling and numbness and to pain that moves from the lower back to the thigh. In addition, a slipped disc in the lower back can irritate the nerves and also cause pain, tingling and numbness.
Both a lumbago and a herniated disc often occur after loads are placed on the lower back, such as during or after carrying heavy loads. Pain in the buttocks and rear thighs is often caused by a problem with the spine. The resulting postural defects ensure that, for example, one leg is subjected to more strain than the other and is thus exposed to an excessive weight load on one half of the body.
This overloading of one leg can then lead to one-sided pain in the buttocks and thighs.Herniated discs and lumbago can also cause pain that radiates from the back to the thigh via the bottom. Especially if numbness or tingling sensations are added, a doctor should be consulted so that a more serious spinal disease can be excluded. A pulled muscle or tension in the buttocks can also cause pain that radiates into the thigh and is usually felt during movement.
