RUPTURED THIGH
A thigh problem does not normally lead to a long-term absence but we are dealing with Jonathan Woodgate’s suspect body here, so it is no surprise that he has suffered the most serious kind of this injury. The England centre back sustained it against Chelsea in April, forcing him to miss the European Championship as well as the start of this season. Real Madrid didn’t seem to mind his injury-prone trauma when they signed him from Newcastle United last week, although, given their lack of attention to defence in recent years, perhaps they don’t really care.
INJURY
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A thigh strain occurs when the muscle is stretched and the tissue is torn. A first and second-degree strain is damage to a varying numbers of muscle fibres, while a third-degree strain, which afflicted Woodgate, is a complete rupture of the muscle itself.
SYMPTOMS
For a third-degree strain, there is a burning or stabbing pain, particularly when the player attempts to walk. There is often a depression in the thigh. After a few days a large bruise will emerge, created by bleeding within the tissues.
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TREATMENT
During the first five days the thigh should be rested in an elevated position, with ice applied for 20 minutes every two hours, and a compression bandage used. This should limit bleeding and swelling in the tissues. First-degree thigh strains should be rested for about three weeks, while for second-degree injuries it is about four to six weeks. When the muscle is ruptured completely, it will need to be repaired surgically, after which the recovery normally takes about three months.
PREVENTION
A warm-up, which should last at least 20 minutes, starting slowly and ending at full pace, makes the muscle more extensible. A high-carbohydrate diet in the two days before activity should ensure enough energy for muscle contractions.