Damage to the sartorius muscle, located in the front part of the thigh, can make nearly any posture painful. Without proper pain relief and inflammation treatments, walking may become impossible. This large muscle can be injured during sports action, accidental slips and falls or traumatic blows. Overstretching a muscle weakens or tears its fibers, which swell and cause pain. Pulled muscles rarely require surgery but usually need gradual exercise therapy to return to health.
Suspension of Exercise
The University of Buffalo Sports Medicine group prescribes rest for its athlete patients who suffer from strained sartorius muscles. Playing through a pulled muscle injury causes further damage, as evidenced by increased pain. Because most weight-bearing movements will cause pain during the inflammatory stage of injury, rest affords instant and ongoing pain relief. This period of swelling and acute discomfort may last for two or three days.
Ice Therapy
Ice packs should be applied as soon as possible after a sartorius muscle injury and throughout the stage of acute symptoms. Pain relief and suppression of swelling will allow the body’s self-healing mechanisms to begin to restore muscle tissue. The National Institutes of Health recommends 20-minute treatments as many as eight times daily, as needed. Unlike over-the-counter pain medications, this drug-free remedy is safe to use throughout rehabilitation.
Leg Support
Complete bed rest is not prescribed by doctors for more than a few days. To keep walking within individual pain limits, patients use crutches or a cane to support the pulled muscle. The UB Sports Medicine group notes that a compression bandage, sometimes called a thigh wrap, both reduces swelling and provides leg support when the patient is mobile.
Pain Relief
The combination of inflammation, tissue degradation and the need to bear weight on a pulled muscle will cause intermittent pain. Coping with physical discomfort diverts the body’s energy from tissue repair, so breaking the pain cycle is an important treatment that promotes more rapid healing. The NIH reports that aspirin or ibuprofen can be taken without a prescription, or a physician can prescribe stronger pain medications.
Resumption of Exercise
The sartorius muscle is a major force behind knee extension and leg rotation, movements that are necessary to walking, exercising and playing sports. Putting the leg back to work before it is strong enough can slow rehabilitation. The NIH recommends a professional physical therapy program to safely supplement range-of-motion exercises. A physical therapist can plan a gradual resumption of activity that will restore muscular fitness and prevent future injuries.
