What can I do to cure a tight/sore quad muscle?

Question

I have recently began running track for my highschool (I'm a sprinter). About a week ago I started experiencing pain in my quad while sprinting. My quad tightens up and i'm in serious pain. I have been using heat pads and been taking ibuforen, but it doesn't seem like it is working. I've haven't been running in 4 days but my quad still seems to be bugging me. It doesn't hurt to walk on it. It just starts to hurt when I run and try to stretch it out. It has been starting to bruise also. What should I do?

Answer 1

Sounds like you pulled the muscle. Alternate heat and cold and MILD stretching.
Unfortunately, the only thing that is going to heal it is time. It is possible that you actually tore the muscle tissue, hence the bruising. Extensive rubbing of the area could cause bruising also.
Have you discussed this with your track coach? If the condition gets worse or in a week or so you see no improvement, you should probably see a doctor, preferably one that specializes in sports medicine.
If it is more like a muscle cramp there is something you can try. Take your thumb (or if you can't reach the area easily with your thumb have someone else do it) and apply direct pressure to the cramped area, as hard as you can stand, and hold it for at least 30 seconds. You may need to do this in several areas, possibly more than once. Do not rub, that can bruise the skin tissue.
But if it feels more like a strained muscle, don't use the pressure. You could cause further damage.
Good luck with this.

Answer 2

Hi there...You most certainly have disruption (tear) of the fibers of the quedriceps muscle, and there is a small clot inside of the muscle, that hurts terribly.
The pain will subside until the torn fibers of the quad have established a "bridge" to connect again, and the hematoma or "clot" inside the muscle have solved.
There is no use to have analgesics either by mouth or onjected, if you dont rest, with a proper elastic bandage applied fron knee to groin for at least 12 days,
Topical (local) application of ointments, pads, etc are of no use, and in yourcase, a waste of money.
REST and mild bandage pressure to let the muscle heal, are the mainstays of treatment.
Elastic bandages should be applied from the knee upwards to the groin , and change the bandages at least once daily, making sure NOT to leave the pressure too thight, (You need MILD pressure) in order to void intergering with proper circulation of blood.
Secondly, a good muscle relaxant in tablets ( for instance, tizanidine tablets 2 miligrams 4 times a day, brand name, Sirdalud, Sandoz Laboratories) will be of lots of help
Several over the counter and prescription brans are around, one of such brands, is Robaxisal, that must be taken with meals only, 2 tablets with meals TDS,
In the first 4 days, applying packs of ice during the day, can be lots of help.
You will need to borrow from friends, or hire in the local orthoi
paedic stores, a pair of crutches, to walk around (to the abthroom for instance), nobody likes to go around on them, however you NEED those, to be back to normal again.
Do not be shocked or surprised if a blood stain (Purple hematoma) appears on the skin of your thigh...it will become green, then yellow, and will dissapear yn 7-9 days