Tedd
Girouard MS, LAT, ATC
Head Athletic Trainer FC Las Vegas
Thigh Contusions also know as Thigh Bruises, Charlie
Horses, or Dead Leg occur very often in soccer, either
you get kicked in the thigh or another knee may catch
you on your thigh. Either way they can be extremely painful
and debilitating. The reason they are so painful is because
when you obtain a contusion to a muscle many of the blood
vessels surrounding the area are damaged, this causes
a tremendous amount of bleeding to the area. This bleeding
causes increased pressure in your thigh which in turn
damages your muscle cells and activates your pain receptors
in that area.
Treatment:
Immediate treatment should include the application
of an ice bag directly to the skin for 30 minutes. The
ice bag should be held in place with a compressive wrap.
After Ice application the thigh should be wrapped with
a compressive bandage to help reduce further swelling.
Ice should be re-applied every 2 hours for 25 minutes.
First Night:
Along with the previously mentioned treatments the
athlete should have their foot "hog tied" to their thigh
(See Photos Below). - The athlete should sleep like this
for the first night try to keep this wrap on for at least
the first 24 hours. You may have a cramp in the back
of your thigh while you are sleeping, if this occurs
take the wrap off for a couple of minutes. Then stretch
out your hamstrings, and return the wrap to the initial
position.
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Start the wrap by going around the calf 2 times,
then bend the knee and wrap around
the thigh and calf. Try and bend the knee as much as possible. The sooner
this wrap
is applied the more bending will be allowed.
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Day 2 - Until 90% of your Range of Motion has been
regained:
The next day should include bi-hourly stretching of
the quadriceps muscle with 25 minutes of ice following
the stretching routine. - Continue this until you have
regained 90% of your uninjured legs range of motion.
If you are still having trouble stretching you should
keep your leg "hog tied" as much as possible.
If you choose not to "hog tie"you should keep
the compression bandage on your thigh during this period.
90% of Range of Motion - Resolution of Injury:
Stretching of the Quadriceps should be performed - Ice
application for 25 minutes after stretching - Once the
pain has subsided the athlete should start to jog, building
up to a run over the next week. Strengthening of the
Quadriceps and Hamstrings should begin during this phase.
This may include some progressive weight training,, balancing,
and some soccer related exercise. The photos below show
some of these exercises.
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Squat:
While balancing on your injured leg, bend
your knee so you can touch a soccer ball.
Hold 1 - 2 seconds and come back up.
Repeat 10 - 15 times,several times daily.
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Volley:
While balancing on your injured leg have
someone throw a ball to your feet, volley the
ball back to them.
Perform this 10 -15 times, then
switch
legs.
Do this several times a day
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Return to Play:
When the athlete is ready to return have them where
a foam pad over the area for the next couple of weeks
to avoid further injury. If in the next couple of months
you notice a hard bump in the area you should consult
a physician as you may have developed a calcium nodule
in the area known as myositis ossificans. If this injury
is not treated properly it may last for several weeks.
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Cut a piece of foam about 3/4 inches thick, cut
a hole in the center, then tape another piece of
foam over the first one. Use a compression bandage
to hold in place over injured area.
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