QUADRICEPS CONTUSION
на канале: Fit As A Physio | Sports Physiotherapy & Massage in Mosman
PHYSIO MOSMAN: https://www.fitasaphysio.com/
A contusion of the quadricep muscle is commonly called a "cork".
Corks result from a severe impact to a muscle, usually from an opposition player’s knee or elbow.
The blow mechanically damages muscle fibres, directly at the site of impact, and/or deeper in the tissue through compressing it against the underlying bone. This causes bleeding, swelling, stiffness, pain, and difficulty contracting the muscle.
Most corks are in the quadriceps (thigh muscle), but I also see corks to the glutes, calf, back muscles, and biceps.
Corks can be graded I, II, or III, reflecting the severity of the injury.
A player with a Grade I cork will finish the game, despite having some pain and stiffness. I wouldn’t expect a Grade I cork to visibly bruise or cause a limp, and I wouldn’t expect the player to miss any subsequent weeks of play.
A player with a Grade II cork will have too much pain to finish the game. I’d expect significant pain, stiffness, walking with a limp, a visible bruise, and to miss the next 2 to 3 weeks of games. As a rough guide I use the number of days limping as a predictor for the number of weeks until return to play.
A player with a Grade III cork will have difficulty weight-bearing, severely restricted range of movement, and will miss at least 6 weeks of games.
Initial management of the injury is crucial. Of the RICE acronym (Rest, Ice Compression, Elevation), the most important component is compression.
For a cork in the thigh I apply the ice with the knee bent as far as possible because the muscle quickly stiffens up.
I like to start some muscle loading exercises from day one, so the muscle knows it needs to lay down new muscle fibres as part of the healing process. Simple body weight strengthening exercises to get the muscle contracting and relaxing. Squats, lunges, step ups/downs, and isometrics, depending on what is achievable without significant pain.
When the player can walk without pain, I’ll start them jogging. Then progressing through a graded running program, increasing pace and distance as able, depending on pain.
When the player’s able to run fast, is confident in contact, has strength comparable to the opposite side, and has completed a couple of unrestricted training sessions then they are OK to return to play.
LEARN MORE: https://www.fitasaphysio.com/quads-co...