Muscle tear in thigh? 7 tips to reduce symptoms
A muscle tear in the thigh is an injury that can cause a great deal of discomfort. Activities such as walking, exercising or sitting comfortably often become a little more difficult. That’s why it’s good to take steps yourself to ensure a proper recovery, so that you can get back to your normal activities as soon as possible. Read on to find out how you can alleviate the symptoms of a muscle tear yourself.
What does a muscle tear in the thigh feel like?
A thigh muscle tear often feels like a sharp pain in the muscle. This pain often comes on suddenly, and many people describe it as feeling as though something has ‘snapped’. These are common symptoms:
- Sharp or stabbing pain
- Difficulty walking
- Muscle tension or a feeling of stiffness
- Swelling or a bruise
- Reduced strength in the thigh
- Pain when moving, stretching or climbing stairs
- A noticeable lump or indentation in the muscle
How does a muscle tear occur?
If you have a torn muscle, you’ll probably know exactly when it happened. A tear often occurs when the thigh muscles are working hard. That’s why it often happens during sport, running, jumping or when making a wrong movement.
What should you avoid doing if you have a torn muscle?
With this injury, it’s important to put as little strain as possible on your thigh. So, you should avoid returning to sport too soon, stretching too much and carrying on whilst you’re in pain. You should also hold off on heavy strength training, running and massaging the muscle for a while. Depending on the severity of the tear, it’s important to get plenty of rest for the first few days.
After that, you can gradually start building up with certain movements. Always listen carefully to your body and pause if it hurts a lot.

Source: Pexels
What to do if you have a torn thigh muscle? 7 tips
1. Rest the muscle
As mentioned above, it’s important to put as little strain as possible on your thigh. Avoid intensive exercise, running or jumping for a while. This can actually make the tear worse. Listen carefully to your body and don’t force any movements.
2. Cool the injured area
Cooling the area helps to reduce swelling and pain. This is particularly effective in the first 48 hours. For example, use something from the freezer wrapped in a cloth and apply it several times a day for a few minutes.
3. Keep your leg elevated as much as possible
Elevating your leg can help reduce fluid build-up and swelling. This is particularly helpful if your leg feels swollen or tender.
4. Gradually build up your activity again
It’s usually not necessary to stay completely still, but you do need to build up your activity gradually. Gentle movement can also help keep the muscle supple. Only do this if you’re sure you’re not straining yourself, and stop immediately if it hurts a lot.
5. Look after your body
Take extra good care of yourself during this period. Eat healthily, get enough sleep and drink plenty of water. Give your body time to recover and, where necessary, do relaxation exercises to prevent stress.
6. Eat enough protein
Protein helps build and repair muscles. That’s why it’s particularly important to eat enough protein when you have a muscle tear. Work out how much protein you need and stick to a temporary target to aid muscle recovery.
7. Use red light therapy
Use red light therapy to support your muscle recovery and reduce pain. These days, you can easily do this at home, for example with the PowerCure Pro laser.

How does red light therapy help with a muscle tear?
Red light therapy is used by many people to support recovery from muscle injuries. In the case of a muscle tear in the thigh, red light can help to support the natural recovery process and reduce pain. The red light penetrates the skin and underlying tissues, thereby having a positive effect on blood flow and energy production in the cells – both of which are key processes in muscle recovery.
This is why people often use red light therapy for a muscle tear:
- It supports blood flow to the muscle and the surrounding area
- It reduces tension and stiffness in the thigh
- It supports the recovery process of the muscle and muscle tissues
- It makes the muscle more supple, which you’ll also notice in your range of motion
- It provides pain relief, making the recovery process smoother
Red light therapy always works best alongside other support measures, such as a healthy lifestyle and plenty of rest. You can use red light therapy at home to treat your injury yourself.
PowerCure red light therapy for a torn muscle
The PowerCure Pro is a red light therapy device that can help with a torn muscle in the thigh. What’s more, it’s not only effective for this injury, but also for a wide range of other complaints and conditions. This means the device isn’t limited to a single purpose; you can use it for many different purposes throughout the home. So you can work on your recovery at any time!