Where are they?
The Quads, (Or officially, "Quadriceps Muscles" or even more officially, the "Quadriceps Femoris") are a group of 4 (hence, quad-) muscles in the front of the upper leg. They make up the bulk of the thigh muscles. Their official names are the Rectus Femoris, Vastus Intermedius, Vastus Lateralis, and Vastus Medialis.
What do they do?
Overall, the quad muscles are responsible for extending, or straightening, the knee and lower leg. They also contribute to flexion of the hip, stabilizing both the hips and knees, and helping you walk.
What makes them hurt?
Since the quads are the most dense grouping of muscles in the body, and they are responsible for a lot of weight-bearing and shock-absorbing work, they can get sore in several ways. The most common injury is a muscle strain which usually comes from overuse or overexertion and can appear in varying degrees of severity. Contusions, or bruises can also occur if an injury comes from force or impact.
How can massage help?
While massage can not help heal a strain or torn muscle, it can help to ease pain or inflammation from an overused or achy muscle. It can also help with softening and loosening scar tissue after a strain has healed. Massage can also help keep the quad muscles healthy so that injuries are less common.
What can I do besides massage to help them?
Before using the legs heavily (such as before a workout or doing strenuous lifting, etc) make sure the muscles are sufficiently warmed up and stretched, and pushing water and fluids during and after the exertion will help keep the muscles from getting too sore or injured. If the quads are already sore, heat treatments like heating pads, saunas, or hot tubs may help relieve achy-ness. Gentle stretching only if there is no strain or suspicion of a strain, but continued movement such as hip circles and leg extensions will keep circulation moving and therefore help ease minor pain.
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