Controlled re-injury of a thigh muscle tear in a soccer player: A case study

Abstract

[Purpose] This case study describes an interesting therapeutic approach to an athlete's muscle injury, which was erroneously diagnosed and treated for the first 48 hours. [Case] During a regular season match, a 17 yearold male, soccer player was hit on his front thigh while he was kicking the ball. The first diagnosis was a contusion, and the player was treated with warm-packs for 48 hours. Ultrasound images revealed a massive muscle tear on the left vastus intermedius of the quadriceps muscle 60 hours after injury. The rehabilitation approach was based on three therapeutic principles: 1) to prevent inflammatory secondary damage, we performed a controlled re-injury to start with a new acute injury; 2) use of physical agents as acute control of the inflammation process; and 3) overlapping rehabilitation phases, such as rest, pain control, healing process, muscle strengthening and aerobic training, to reduce total rehabilitation time. [Results] Weekly ultrasound images showed a total repair after 4 weeks of treatment. Due to the effectiveness of the rehabilitation program the athlete was able to play competitively 35 days after the injury and no re-injury was observed over a 1 year follow-up. [Conclusion] The therapeutic approach used in this case study, which involved the prevention of secondary damage and the overlap of rehabilitation phases, was effective and time efficient.