A burning sensation in the thigh muscle during running could be indicative of several factors. The thigh muscle, or quadriceps, bears a significant amount of stress from every stride taken during a run. This compounded stress can sometimes lead to thigh pain. Luckily, thigh pain is one of the easiest conditions to overcome and can often be treated without having to stop running altogether.
Identification
Burning pain in the thigh muscle is often incurred mid-run and characterized by a painful swelling sensation. The pain can be exacerbated when lengthening your stride or increasing speed. Likewise, incline and decline running, such as in trail running, can add additional shock to an injured thigh muscle.
Tears
Thigh pain is generally caused by a tear in the quadriceps muscle. A tear can sometimes occur due to an imbalance between the quadriceps and the hamstring, the muscle that runs along the back of the leg. The thigh becomes especially prone to tears when the hamstring overpowers the quadriceps. Runners frequently encounter this problem since the hamstring naturally works more than the quadriceps.
Stress Fracture
A stress fracture in the femur is another possible cause of burning thigh pain in runners. While rarer in occurrence, stress fractures are much more serious than tears, sometimes requiring several weeks away from running to allow for sufficient recovery. X-rays and an MRI can typically ascertain the degree to which the femur has been fractured, and surgery is sometimes necessary, according to Dr. Cathy Fieseler in Running Times magazine.
Treatment
For less-serious tears, ice therapy is an effective treatment that can be performed at home. Place an ice pack on the affected area immediately after running and keep it applied for at least 10 minutes. Ice helps reduce pain and swelling and should be applied a few times a day. Anti-inflammatory medications are also useful in reducing swelling and pain. Finally, a bandage can be wrapped around the thigh to add compression and help keep swelling down.
Prevention/Solution
Proper warm-ups and stretching are the best tools against sustaining future thigh injuries. A good warm-up includes a slow jog for 10 minutes followed by gentle stretching for another 10 to 15 minutes. For a runner recovering from a recent injury, stretching should not be forced. Also, slower and shorter running are recommended to avoid the chance of re-injuring the thigh muscle.
