Pulled Leg Muscles

Anatomy and Description

The muscles that comprise the leg are thick, powerful and relatively complicated in comparison with other body parts. The upper thigh is the largest and most powerful muscle in the entire body, making it important to avoid injury to this area. The leg from the length of the buttocks to the ankle is comprised of four major muscle groups.

The gluteus muscle group is comprised of three muscles in the buttock area; the gluteus maximus, medius, and minimus, all working together. The gluteus muscle is responsible for the extension of the hip, abduction of the leg away from the body, and internal and external rotation of the thigh and buttocks.

The hamstring group of muscles contains the semimembrinosus, semitendinosus, and biceps femoris. The hamstring is located on the back of the upper thigh and is responsible for curling the leg, flexing the knee, and rotating the leg laterally.

The quadriceps are at the front of the thigh and are composed of the rectus femoris, vastus intermedius, vastus medialis and the vastus lateralis. The job of the quadriceps is to extend and straighten the leg. The calves contain three muscles; the gastrocnemius, the inner and out soleus. They are designed to elevate the heel with and without the knee bent.

All of the aforementioned muscles are extremely important in the function of the leg, and because the leg muscles are what help people walk, proper care and immediate treatment of an injured muscle are absolutely necessary.

Causes of Injury

Causes of leg muscle injuries are very similar to those of the other muscles in the body. Overuse, fatigue and overstretching are very common sources of injury. The leg muscles are very strong and are difficult to injure, but it can be done with excessive force or use. Tears in the muscle fibers put the muscle at risk for additional injury if the initial damage is not taken care of properly. Cold weather is another common cause of leg injuries. Running or jogging in cold weather if the muscles are not warmed up beforehand can make the muscles fragile and more susceptible to tearing.

Common Activities Causing Injury

Daily activities are typically safe in terms of pulling a leg muscle, but more vigorous activities such as running, jumping, and weight lifting make the leg muscles subject to overstretching injuries. Playing sports that use the legs excessively such as soccer, basketball and football also make a person more likely to be injured. However, the best way to keep muscles healthy is to properly warm them up and stretch them prior to engaging in such sports or activities.

Treatment and Recovery

Various forms of treatment are available to help treat a pulled muscle in the leg. The most commonly recommended course of treatment for a pulled leg is the R.I.C.E method. This refers to the process of rest, ice, compression and elevation, and is considered to be very effective for reducing pain and increasing mobility. Resting the muscle without immobilizing it is very important for healing and reinforcement of functionality. If the injury is severe, seeking medical attention may be wise to determine the best course of action. In most cases, physical therapy will help to rehabilitate the muscle, but sometimes surgery may be required to restore proper function and usage of the leg muscle.

Prevention of Future Injury

While no single thing can guarantee that a muscle will not be re-injured, there are steps and precautions a person can take to keep the muscles from becoming re-injured or injuring different muscles in the future. Warming up and stretching is one of the most important things to do before performing any exercise or strenuous activity.

Building strong ankle muscles will help to eliminate the possibility of ligamentous and muscular damage from weakness. Starting with low weights and high repetitions and gradually building up to higher weights and lower repetitions during a work-out can also be very effective in strengthening the muscle so it is less likely to become injured. Rest following injury, instead of trying to work through the pain is also very important to keep the muscle from becoming damage further.