The quadriceps are the muscles located on the front of the thigh. There are four different muscles that make up this muscle group. These muscles allow for hip flexion and straightening or extending the knee. Muscle knots in these muscles can cause pain in all areas of the knee and within the belly of each quadriceps muscle. Muscle knots in the outside of the quadriceps muscle can mimic IT Band pain and pain on the outside of the knee. Muscle knots in the middle quadriceps muscle can cause pain in the front of the thigh and around the knee cap. Muscle knots in the inner quadriceps muscle can cause pain in the inside of the thigh and the inside of the knee.
Muscle knots in the quadriceps, which consist of tight and contracted muscles, are indicated below by a black dot. The red area in the illustrations indicates “referred pain” – meaning, the pain you feel is often not in the location of your trigger point until you press on it. As an example, you may have pain around your kneecap, but the trigger point may actually be in the middle quadriceps muscle. For a comprehensive look at more than 260 different pain map illustrations throughout the body, you may want to purchase the Tiger Tail Self-Help Guide to HAPPY MUSCLES.
Over exercising can create muscle knots in the Vastus Intermedius, part of the quadriceps muscle group which runs down the front of the thigh.
The Iliopsoas muscle can cause back and thigh pain if it is overly tight or harbors trigger points.
