Quadriceps contusions commonly involve the vastus lateralis and intermedius. The opposite leg protects the vastus medialis while the vastus lateralis and intermedius shields the rectus femoris. Diagnosing a thigh contusion is straightforward. The athlete does not always remember making contact and often can continue to play. The player commonly complains of stiffness, soreness and pain with passive stretch of the quadriceps.
Palpation reveals diffuse tenderness along the anterior and lateral thigh.
Deep palpation occasionally elicits spasm. Gentle range of motion is not painful, but depending on the severity of the contusion, pain can be evoked by force flexion of the knee thus stretching the injured quadriceps muscle fibers. Jackson and Feagin in 1973 classified the severity of quadriceps contusions into three groups. Unable to do deep knee bend or arise from a chair without considerable pain Less than 90 knee flexion Severe Markedly tender and swollen thigh Contour of the muscle cannot be palpated Antalgic gait Effusion in the ipsilateral knee Less than 45 of knee flexion Quadriceps contusion should not be trivialized. They can not only be extremely debilitating, significant complications can also occur.