What to know about the quadriceps muscles

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Also known as the quadriceps femoris, the quads shape the main bulk of the thigh and collectively form one of the densest and most powerful muscle groups in the body.

Experts can further subdivide the muscles of the thigh into three compartments:

• the anterior (front)
• medial (inner)
• posterior (back of the thigh)

Along with two other muscles, the sartorius and iliopsoas, the quadriceps form the anterior compartment, which extends the leg at the knee, enabling stability and movement.

Click on the BodyMap above to interact with a 3D model of the quadricep muscles.

The quadriceps femoris consists of the rectus femoris and the three vastus muscles. These muscles work together to extend the knee and stabilize the patella, or kneecap. The location of these four muscles are as follows:

• Rectus femoris: This muscle partially covers the three vastus muscles and is the only muscle in the group to cross the hip and knee joints. In addition to extending at the knee joint, it also flexes at the hip joint.
• Vastus lateralis: This large muscle runs down the outside of the thigh and connects the femur to the patella.
• Vastus intermedius: As the name suggests, this muscle sits between the other two vastus muscles in the thigh. It is the deepest of the four muscles.
• Vastus medialis: This teardrop-shaped muscle runs along the inner part of the thigh and connects the femur to the kneecap.

In addition to the four quadriceps muscles, this area of the body also includes the lateral femoral circumflex artery. This branch of the femoral artery is the primary blood supply for the leg. It also features the femoral nerve, which has a role in motor and sensory processing in the lower limbs. Additionally, the head of these four muscles combines to form the quadriceps muscle tendon, which connects the muscle group to the patella.

The main functions of the quadriceps are to extend the leg at the knee joint and flex the thigh at the hip joint. They also help stabilize the knee by holding the patella inside a groove in the femur, or thigh bone. The quadriceps are primarily active in jumping, running, and kicking movements. They help perform everyday movements such as walking, sitting up from a chair, and climbing stairs.

The quadricep muscles work antagonistically with the hamstring muscles, which are present as the back of the thigh. When one muscle group contracts, the other relaxes, allowing for flexion and extension of the knee. When the hamstring contracts, the knee joint flexes, or bends, and when the quadriceps contracts, it extends or straightens the leg.

As the quadriceps are active during many different types of movement and physical activities, it is not uncommon for injuries to occur from overuse, overstretching, or trauma. Some common quadriceps injuries may include:

Contusions

A contusion, which many people simply call a bruise, often develops from an impact to the thigh, which compresses the muscles against the hard surface of this part of the leg. As a result, this trauma may cause bruising and inflammation. It is a common injury in many impact sports and can lead to pain and a reduced range of movement.

Treatment for this type of injury will typically involve rest, ice, compression, and elevation, or the RICE method. Additionally, some light stretching may help restore a full range of movement.

Strains

Also known as a pulled quad, this is another common and painful sports injury, particularly among athletes who perform sudden, forceful leg movements. It occurs when a person overstretches a muscle or tendon, especially as a result of fatigue, overuse, or improper use.

This injury may limit movement, and treatment often involves the RICE method and anti-inflammatory medications. People can attempt to prevent quad strains by conditioning the muscles with regular exercise and fully warming up and cooling down before and after exercise.

Tendinopathy

Tendinopathy refers to tendon injuries that often result in pain, swelling, and impaired function that typically occur from overuse. Tendons are thick tissues that attach bone to muscle. In the case of the quads, they attach these muscles to the patella. Two of the main types of tendinopathy are tendinitis and tendinosis.

Tendinitis describes inflammation of a tendon, while tendinosis refers to the degeneration of a tendon. Both injuries are painful and can cause a loss of flexibility. While the RICE method can help aid recovery, a person may require injections or surgery to help treat tendinosis.

Tears

A quadricep tear describes when a tendon becomes either partially or completely severed. It is a similar injury to a strain but involves overstretching and tearing. In some cases, the injury may begin as a partial tear where the tendon is fraying, but then progresses, causing the tendon to tear completely. This damage may cause the muscles to detach from the kneecap, meaning a person cannot straighten their knee.

An individual may hear a popping sound after tearing their quadriceps tendon, along with experiencing pain and swelling. They may also notice a gap at the top of the kneecap where the tendon tore. Treatment may vary but can include rest, physical therapy, and surgery.

Click here to learn more about pain in the upper thigh.

To help strengthen and condition the quadriceps, people can perform a variety of exercises to work this muscle group. However, before exercising, it is advisable to perform a quick warm up and stretch to help encourage blood flow to the area.

For the quadriceps, this can include 5–10 minutes of walking then a standing quadricep stretch or prone squad stretch. This stretch involves bending the knee and bringing the heel towards the buttocks. A person then grabs their ankle, gently pulls it closer to the body and holds this for 30–60 seconds.

Some quadricep exercises people can try include:

Squats

To perform a squat:

1. Place the feet a little wider than shoulder-width apart.
2. Perform a sitting motion, ensuring the back is straight and chest up.
3. Continue the squatting motion until the hips are below the knees.
4. Then press the feet into the ground and push the hips forward to return to the starting position.

People can squat using their body weight or a barbell for extra weight.

Lunges

To perform a lunge:

1. Start with the feet roughly hip-width apart.
2. Step forward with the right leg, then lower the left knee close to the floor without touching the ground.
3. Push through the right foot to return the left leg to the starting position.
4. Repeat the exercise using the opposite feet.

People can also perform lunges using their body weight or additional weights.

Leg press

A seated leg press is another piece of gym equipment. For this exercise:

1. Select an appropriate weight, sit on the machine and place the feet against the resistance plate.
2. Contract the quadricep muscles to push the plate away.
3. Pausing momentarily, slowly return to the starting position by flexing and allowing the plate to move back in a slow, controlled manner.

Leg extension

A seated leg extension is a weight machine that people may find at a gym. After selecting an appropriate weight, a person sits on the machine and puts their feet behind the bar. Then can then extend the quad muscles to straighten the leg and hold this position before slowly returning to the starting position.

The quadriceps are a group of muscles present on the front of the thigh. They consist of four distinct muscles: the rectus femoris, the vastus lateralis, the vastus intermedius, and the vastus medialis. They are responsible for extending the leg and helping with movements such as walking and jumping.

As these muscles are involved in many active movements, quad injuries are common among athletes. After an injury, it is advisable for people to rest and allow the muscles to recover. Proper stretching and conditioning of these muscles can help prevent injuries.