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. Pain in the thigh can arise acutely, 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 groups according to location: 

• Front. 
• Back. 
• Inner side. 

At the front there are three muscles, of which the quadriceps is the best known. For many years the quadriceps has been divided 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 femur or the pelvis. However, they have a common function. They all help with extending the knee and flexing 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 cause rotation of the hip and moving 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 function to supply the muscles with nutrients and to remove waste products. Pain in the thigh can sometimes be an expression of a problem elsewhere in the body. Sometimes this has to do with nerves and blood vessels, but radiating pain from the hip can also be felt along the thigh.

Check your symptoms

Do you have thigh symptoms? Then you may want to get a good picture of what might be causing the pain in your thigh. First do the online physiotherapy check. Indicate where you feel the pain and then answer a number of questions about your thigh symptoms. 

At the end of the physiotherapy check, your symptoms are compared with the most common conditions and injuries in physiotherapy. If you wish, you can contact a physiotherapy practice for professional help.

Thigh conditions

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