Any runners there..I have this injury...

[woahthere]

Hi, I've been running for a year and a half on and off. Since September I have got quite into it and have built myself up to comfortably run 6 miles. Have just entered myself for my first ever 10k race. I wanted to improve my speed so went to a session that practised sprinting. I really enjoyed it and with being shown how to get the best result was running quite fast in short bursts. Problem is now, that 10 days later and I am in so much pain across my quadriceps. Was a bit achy initially after but thought was normal as obviously using muscles differently to normal, but even now if I kneel on the floor and try to stand up it causes a tearing sensation that is very painful across the top of both my thighs. I tried to have a little race with my son earlier and it happened again. I'm so frustrated but can't even try to run. Has anyone else ever had this, will it take long to get better? Do I need to see a doctor or will he just say I've sprained my quadriceps?

[ghosteditor]

It sounds like an ITB or hip flexor issue to me. How much stretching do you do? Yoga and/or Pilates could help.

[woahthere]

What is ITB? I do Yoga and have good flexibility. I might try doing some yoga later as I can't run anywhere :(

[ghosteditor]

Ilio-tibial band. As I understand it (not medically trained but I do an injury-prone sport), it's a part of fascia that runs from hips to ankles and is prone to snagging on muscles and causing tension and pain. Lie down on your side and roll a tennis ball under your thigh - if it's painful, it needs work.

I've reread your OP - if your pain is after sprinting it may be a hip flexor thing, in which case stretching and lunges (so esp yoga) should help. That can come from tight quads, calves, or weak glutes, or bad posture, or any number of things. Definitely worth seeing a good physio who can diagnose properly - it may change your life :)

[ghosteditor]

In fact the tennis ball trick may help over the painful area, or a foam roller. Apply ice too.

[woahthere]

thanks ghosteditor, no pain under my thigh with tennis ball...the pain is on the top

Also I can't do lunges as it creates the pain :(

[ghosteditor]

Hmm - hip flexors then possibly? They do a lot of the work lifting the leg high, which is what you do when sprinting and very different from running normal strides. Hip flexors feed into quads and spine so best to get checked out by someone with more knowledge than me! I just get injured a lot, what do I know