Tightness in quadricep

[Terzo]

About week ago I was doing some sprints and felt a tightness in my right quadricep. I haven't really rested since then, just toned things down, but it's still noticeable. It's only my right quad, and I can feel it being really tight when I do the quadricep stretch (like pictured below).

The tightness is slightly off center, towards the interior part of the quad. Does anyone have an idea of what might be the cause? Also what I might be able to do to help it go away? I have a friendly race in 3 days, so I'd really like to be back to normal by then, because the way I am right now I wont be able to go 100%.

 

[z1ggy]

foam roll

 

[CalebRockeT]

I strained both quads while sprinting earlier this summer. I took about a week off and pulled them again straight away. After that I took a full three weeks off from any training and incorporated some light static stretching. Thankfully, after three weeks of rest and stretching, I was able to go all out without aggravating the strains.

From everything that I read, rest will play the biggest role in getting back to 100%. Good luck.

 

[Terzo]

Thanks, my friend has a lacrosse ball that I used to roll around the area, besides that it sounds like I'll just have to take it easy.

 

[z1ggy]

Thanks, my friend has a lacrosse ball that I used to roll around the area, besides that it sounds like I'll just have to take it easy.

RICE until you don't have any actual pain or swelling. Then do the foam/ball rolling + heat on the area. Should be fine, just don't push it. Pulled muscles are incredibly easy to repull.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

To be honest, your body doesn't heal all the much in 3 days. I'd say postpone it if you can. If you don't, you'll run a serious risk of re-injury. As for the injury itself, it sounds like a vastus medialis strain. The above suggestions for rest are reasonable, but only to a point.

Stay active the best you can without irritating it. That probably means no running. If you can still squat, lunge, and/or use elliptical, definitely do that. If this is a normally healing injury, ice is actually counterproductive to the recovery process. As it becomes more comfortable, definitely foam roll it and stretch it (in that order), but only to the degree that is reasonable. Pain is not your friend at this stage.

As it improves, slowly return back to your original activities over a couple of weeks while continuing to work on that muscle (with stretching, foam rolling, dynamic warm-ups, etc).

 

[Terzo]

Based on your recommendations I'll sit out tomorrow then. We have thunderstorms forecast so there's a chance it'll be cancelled regardless.

As for staying somewhat active until then...it really only is noticeable when I'm sprinting. I've rowed the past two days and that felt fine, and I found that even jogging didn't really bother me. I did try going to the gym one day but crapped out halfway through squats, though that may have been due to being really tired.

In terms of activities, my line of thinking is that as long as something make my leg hurt or feel tight, then it's probably okay. Not sure if that's sound reasoning or not though.

Thanks again to all who have responded so far.