Injury to the sartorius muscle in the front of the thigh can affect patients’ seated posture and locomotion abilities. A thigh strain in this area of the leg inhibits knee flexion and rotation, and the patient may be unable to put body weight on it while standing or walking without causing undue pain. The treatments for a pulled muscle in the leg may range from simple first aid to complex surgery, depending on the extent of tissue damage. Other treatments are aimed at pain relief and preventing additional stress on the injured leg.
Protection
A damaged sartorius muscle needs immediate protection from further damage. Leg muscles bear a majority of body weight, so getting off the feet and resting is the first treatment that patients should carry out. The National Institutes of Health recommends supporting the leg after a thigh strain with crutches or a cane when walking is resumed. A compression bandage can also reduce swelling and support the weakened muscle tissue.
Nonprescription Pain Control
Because some walking may be necessary and will irritate the injured muscle, inflammation and pain can linger for 48 hours or more after a thigh strain. The NIH suggests taking over-the-counter pain relievers, such as aspirin or ibuprofen. Nonmedicinal pain relief is safe to use for longer periods than drugs. The NIH notes that 20-minute applications of ice packs can be applied up to eight times per day. Cold packs reduce swelling and the pain that accompanies it.
Prescription Pain Relief
A severe strain or tear in the thigh muscles may defy home pain treatments. Doctors can prescribe opioid pain medications or administer one-time pain relief through corticosteroid injection. The University of Maryland Medical Center reports positive results with injection therapy for injured hamstring muscles at the back of the thigh, which suggests that it may be an effective treatment for the sartorius muscle as well.
Rehabilitation
Bringing the sartorius muscle back to fitness should be done gradually and preferably under medical supervision. To prevent muscle atrophy or weakness, patients should begin moving the injured muscle as soon as swelling from a thigh strain diminishes, according to the NIH. A trained physical therapist can recommend an exercise regimen that will gradually rebuild muscular flexibility and strength.
Surgery
Even painful muscle strains can heal with the above treatments. Severe tissue damage or re-injury conditions, however, may require surgery, according to the NIH. Tears in the muscle or tendon that attaches it to the bone may be candidates for orthopedic surgery.
