Thigh pain

The thigh is located between the pelvis and the knee. It consists of one bone, the femur. The femur is surrounded by muscles. Thigh pain can occur acutely, such as with a bone fracture or a muscle tear. However, many symptoms can also develop gradually.

Anatomy of the thigh

The thigh consists of the femur and two adjacent joints (the hip and the knee). Around the femur are eleven muscles, two major nerves, and various blood vessels.

Thigh muscles
The thigh muscles can be divided into three (3) groups according to location, namely: 

• Front. 
• Back. 
• Inner side. 

At the front are three muscles, of which the quadriceps is the best known. The quadriceps has long been classified into four heads. However, scientists have discovered that the muscle also has a fifth head.

The five heads of the quadriceps come together just above the knee in a common terminal tendon. Each head originates somewhere else on the thigh or pelvis. However, they share a common function. They all help extend the knee and flex the hip. 

The muscles at the back of the thigh are also called the hamstrings. They consist of three separate muscles. These muscles extend the hip and flex the knee. 

The muscle group on the inner side of the thigh, also called the adductors, consists of five muscles that provide hip rotation and move the leg inward.

Nerves and blood vessels
The nerves of the thigh ensure that we can control our muscles and perceive pain. The blood vessels supply the muscles with nutrients and remove waste products. Thigh pain can sometimes be a sign of a problem elsewhere in the body. Sometimes this is related to nerves and blood vessels, but radiating pain from the hip can also be felt over the thigh.

Check your symptoms

Do you have thigh pain? Then you may want to get a good picture of what could be causing it. Start with the online physical therapy check. Indicate where you feel the pain and then answer a number of questions about your thigh symptoms. 

At the end of the physical therapy check, your symptoms are compared with the most common conditions and injuries within physical therapy. If you wish, you can visit a physical therapy practice for professional help.

Thigh conditions

Various conditions and injuries can cause thigh pain. In this overview, we list the most important conditions.