FLEXIBILITY "RECTUS FEMORIS"

In a continuation of this series today's muscle, the Rectus Femoris (RF), it is important to review last Thursdays flexibility article on the Thomas Test. The RF is a muscle that is part of 4 muscles that are in the front of the leg, usually referred to as the thigh.
The RF is in the middle of the high, and can be dramatically affected by bruises in the thigh area. If you have been watching the NBA playoffs, you know that Shaq has not played as much as he would like. The Miami Heat Swept the New Jersey Nets in the first round three games to none. The Heat also swept the Washington Wizards four games to none in the second round. But Shaq did not play in the last two games of the Wizards series. His injury is a thigh bruise that needs time to heal. I believe he was injured toward the tail end of the season, and this is the type of injury that requires rest. In football, injuries like this can also occur. They are usually helmet to thigh, and can be a lot nastier. There is a present day example to all you basketball fans.
Now for the science stuff. The origin of the RF is the ilium portion of the hip. It is referred to as the iliac spine. It connects to the anterior and inferior portion of the ilium. The RF is also attached to the lateral, anterior, and medial portion of the femur. The femur is that big bone between the hip and knee. The insertion is the tibial tuberosity. For the people that have Osgood-Schlatter's Syndrome, that is where you experience the most pain. The tibia is the larger of the two bones that runs from the knee to the ankle. The tibial tuberosity is just below the knee (patella) and is that bump that everyone has. Wake up! Wake up! Repeat after me! He lives in a pineapple under the sea. Sponge Bob square pants. He's bald, has grey hair and a....! Wait that's not part of the song. Anyway.
OK, lets get to the test all ready. Lie flat on a bench. You may need a wide table that can be used by a doctor to examine a patient. Have your legs, from the knee to the ankles, dangle off the side of the table or bench. Grab one leg, like the Thomas Test, and pull toward the chest. Watch the leg that is still dangling off the table. If the leg continues to dangle straight down, then that is good. If the leg starts to straighten out, then the flexibility in the RF is not good. The RF draws the knee toward the chest, or causes hip flexion. The RF also cause the lower leg, between the knee and ankle, to straighten out. If you are standing, and grab your ankle to stretch the front part of your leg, this is your problem area. If the RF is tight, you will have a higher chance of muscle pulls in the thigh or quad area. Your running mechanics will also be hampered, especially linear/forward/backward, because of the slightly less motion this muscle is able to provide.
Next week we will talk about the back of the leg, or the biceps femoris. I'll try to include some Nelly next week. Sorry, you won't find much country music here! Any questions, contact me at acudave@yahoo.com