August 25, 2023

Fast-Track Your Recovery from a Stubborn Quad Muscle Strain

Growing up, sports were very important to me. Soccer, in particular, became my passion, eventually leading me to play at the college level. But with the thrill of the game came a series of muscle strains and soft tissue injuries that felt all too familiar. Each time it happened, I’d follow the traditional route – rest, ice, and various treatments with the athletic training staff. But these methods never seemed to quite hit the mark. Recovery was slow, and I’d often find myself back on the bench with the same injury.

Fast forward to today, where I’ve transitioned from the soccer field to a career as a physical therapist. With my newfound knowledge, I’ve not only improved my own recovery but have gained valuable insights into treating soft tissue injuries, including quad, groin, and hamstring strains.

Pain on the Pitch: Confronting My Latest Quad Strain Challenge

Recently, I found myself facing a familiar foe – a quad strain. It happened during one of my regular Monday night soccer games. As I kicked the ball, I felt a sudden tightening and pain in my quad. The discomfort lingered even after the game, and any attempt to kick a ball brought on a wave of pain. I knew I had to take swift action.

The Swift Road to Healing: My Highly Effective Rehab Regimen

For my rehab, I opted for a simple yet highly effective approach. The morning after the injury, a coworker and fellow therapist performed dry needling on my quad. I focused on the tender area that hurt the most during the kicking motion. To complement this, I utilized the red light therapeutic laser available at TruMove, to speed up headling at the cellular level.

The following day, I continued with dry needling, targeting areas both above and below the strain. Again, I used laser therapy and introduced blood flow restriction training. This combination of dry needling, laser therapy, and blood flow restriction training became a daily routine throughout my rehab.

By the end of the initial week, I was feeling remarkably better. I was tempted to return to the field just one week later but decided to give myself an extra week to ensure a full recovery.

Week two involved a few more dry needling sessions, additional rounds of red light laser therapy, and continued blood flow restriction training. By the end of this period, I felt ready to rejoin my Monday night league. I was back to sprinting, cutting, and shooting the ball with full power, and most importantly, without any reactivation of the injury.

Unmasking the Secrets: The Science That Powers My Speedy Recovery

While the rehab process might sound straightforward, there’s solid science supporting each component. In hindsight, I believe I could have achieved the same results with a bit less needling and the same amount of laser and blood flow restriction training. However, it’s clear that each element played a significant role in my rapid recovery.

Back in the Game: How Proper Treatment Cut My Recovery Time in Half

In college, an injury like this would have sidelined me for weeks, possibly even longer if I rushed back into the game too soon. But with the right treatment, it took just two weeks for me to make a complete recovery. These rehab techniques are something I wish I had during my competitive playing days, but I’m grateful to have them now and share them with my patients.

If you’re facing a quad injury or any soft tissue issue, don’t underestimate the power of the right treatment approach. With the right care, you can be back on the field or court in no time.

– Luke Fischer, DPT, TruMove

If you have any questions or need personalized advice regarding your injury or performance goals, don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m here to help and guide you on your journey to recovery and peak performance. Together, we can overcome challenges, crush those quad strains, and achieve your athletic aspirations. I’m open to questions and always eager to assist you on your path to success.

Let TruMove help you kick quad strains to the curb and optimize your on-field performance. Schedule an evaluation with Luke or any of our experienced physical therapists at TruMove today!

Plus, discover the benefits of our performance memberships designed to take your game to the next level. Don’t wait, invest in your athletic future now.