Symptoms | Thigh Strain

Symptoms

The symptoms of thigh strain depend mainly on the severity of the injury. A slight strain of the thigh is typically characterized by an overstretching of the musculature, which leads to tiny tears within the muscle fibers. For this reason, a significant reduction in muscle strength and range of motion can be observed in affected patients.

In addition, the affected patients experience severe pain with every active movement as well as with passive stretching of the muscles. As a rule, these pains first appear immediately after the traumatic event. Affected patients describe the pain in the thigh as cramping, pulling or stabbing when a strain is present.

An enormous strain on the thigh leads to large tears in the corresponding muscles (torn muscle fibre). Typically, a visible and palpable dent in the muscle develops in the affected patient immediately after the traumatic event. However, this dent can be covered by severe swelling in the course of the disease.

Diagnosis

In most cases, the diagnosis of a muscle strain is made in several steps. Typically, the diagnosis of muscle strain begins with a detailed doctor-patient consultation (anamnesis) during which various questions must be clarified. During this conversation, the symptoms perceived by the patient are the most important.

In addition, the trigger mechanism (was sport performed?) plays a decisive role in the diagnosis of muscle strain. Following the doctor-patient conversation, an orienting physical examination is usually performed.

In this context, it must be urgently clarified whether the patient concerned has only pulled a muscle or even torn a muscle fiber. The doctor checks both the appearance and the functionality of the affected area. In addition, the attending physician pays attention to possible skin changes (redness, injuries) and swellings.

If during the physical examination a tissue gap (dent) or bump can be found in the painful area, it can be assumed that the patient has a torn muscle fibre. The suspicion of the presence of a ruptured muscle fiber is confirmed if the muscle has not been functional since the triggering event. Although many factors that can be clarified during the doctor-patient consultation and physical examination allow a distinction to be made between pulled muscle and torn muscle fiber, the final diagnosis can often only be made with the help of imaging techniques.

In this context, the ultrasound examination of the aching muscle plays a decisive role. During the ultrasound examination, both fluid accumulations within the muscle and even the smallest tears can be detected. If no clear distinction can be made between pulled muscle and torn muscle fibre even after an ultrasound examination, further imaging procedures (e.g. magnetic resonance imaging) can be initiated.