What is a quadriceps contusion?

A quadriceps contusion occurs from a direct blow to the front of the thigh. It can be a very painful injury. It commonly occurs in contact and collision sports, such as football, soccer, and rugby. The injured athlete will often have swelling and sometimes significant bruising at the point of impact. He will have a lot of pain at the site of contact, and he usually will complain of pain using that leg, such as difficulty running.

Treatment of a quadriceps contusion

Treatment is usually symptomatic, meaning that the goal is to get the swelling and pain down. Having the athlete rest with the knee bent can help keep the swelling down, and ice is helpful as well. Most physicians advise against aggressively trying to stretch out the quadriceps muscle in the first few days. Typically as swelling and bruising improve, motion and strengthening can be started. When the motion and strength of the knee improve, jogging and sport-specific drills can be instituted. Nonsurgical treatment is almost always effective for this injury. Occasionally a condition called myositis ossificans can develop, where bone forms in the area of the quadriceps contusion. This rare complication can be a significant limitation to activity. The time it takes to get back to sports is variable, but usually the athlete can return in days to several weeks.

Athlete getting massage on quadriceps contusion to help recovery after a workout

Recommended Products and Resources
Click here to go to Dr. David Geier’s Amazon Influencer store!
Due to a large number of questions I have received over the years asking about products for health, injuries, performance, and other areas of sports, exercise, work and life, I have created an Amazon Influencer page. While this information and these products are not intended to treat any specific injury or illness you have, they are products I use personally, have used or have tried, or I have recommended to others. THE SITE MAY OFFER HEALTH, FITNESS, NUTRITIONAL AND OTHER SUCH INFORMATION, BUT SUCH INFORMATION IS DESIGNED FOR EDUCATIONAL AND INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. THE CONTENT DOES NOT AND IS NOT INTENDED TO CONVEY MEDICAL ADVICE AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE THE PRACTICE OF MEDICINE. YOU SHOULD NOT RELY ON THIS INFORMATION AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR, NOR DOES IT REPLACE, PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE, DIAGNOSIS, OR TREATMENT. THE SITE IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ACTIONS OR INACTION ON A USER’S PART BASED ON THE INFORMATION THAT IS PRESENTED ON THE SITE. Please note that as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.