Thigh flossing

This weeks blog episode we are going to talk about using a flossing band on the thigh musculature. In previous weeks blogs we have talked about using a flossing band on the knee, shin and foot/ankle.

The thigh has a bunch of different muscles in it. The front of the thigh is called the quadriceps (quads) and there are four muscles located there. These four muscles located on the front of the thigh are very powerful, some of the strongest muscles in the body. The back of the thigh muscles are called the hamstrings. There are 3 different hamstring muscles. The hamstrings are generally slightly weaker than the quads but are also powerful knee flexors/bend the knee and they work up at the hip joint as well to pull the leg behind the body into hip extension. In addition, there are the groin muscles, also known as the adductor musculature. These add the stability component to the thigh muscles. These muscles help to keep the leg aligned under the body and do not let the leg travel laterally too much or too quickly. If the person slips suddenly and the leg goes quickly out to the side, you can pull a groin muscle.

Here is a video of using a flossing band to wrap the thigh musculature.

Once the band is wrapped around the thigh the client can start doing some movements to get the affected muscles working. For example the client could lie supine, on their back, and do a striaght leg lift or they could lie supine and take the leg out to the side for 1-2 minutes. Then we get the client standing up and doing some weight bearing exercises, i.e. squats, lunges, hamstring curls, or lateral lunges for 60-90 seconds. After the exercises, the flossing band is removed and then the client is retested in the movements previously tested. Looking for increased ease of movement, decreased pain and/or swelling. The flossing process can then be repeated a 2-3 times in a treatment session. This can also be used for medial and anterior shin splints as part of the treatment plan.

Video of doing some exercises with the flossing band wrapped around the thigh.

Have you pulled/strained/torn your thigh musculature recently? Would you like to try flossing as part of a plan to get you back moving painfree? Please call New Leaf Physiotherapy for your at home physiotherapy needs. 250-826-7300 to talk with Lyndsey, a certified Rehabiliation Assistant, to help you book your assessment.

New Leaf Physiotherapy is a mobile physiotherapy service that sees clients in West Kelowna, Kelowna and Lake Country.