Road Cycling - Vastus Lateralis - Connective tissue tear?

I think I may have a slight tendon tear. The connective tissue that attaches the Vastus Lateralis muscle is sensitive to the touch and slightly inflamed. I get pain in that spot when I flex my quads, especially when I hyper extend my knee. Today, during a light ride, that spot felt as if it were cramping but it stopped immediatly when I ease up on pedaling.

I think it might be a tear... has anyone ever torn this tendon/muscel? How long did it take to heal?

http://www.aafp.org/afp/20070115/194-f1.jpg

are you sure it isn't inflammation of the Illiotibial band?

I'm pretty sure, by "feel" it doesn't seem to be the Illiotibial band... pain is just behind the top corner of the Patella.

I did a really hard session on the Leg Sled a couple days ago (reached a new high BTW) I followed it up with 5 hard sets of leg extensions. I didn't feel pain until yesterday.

unlikely a tear of the vastus lateralis connective tissue insertion. Not a common place to injure at all. I would be looking at some form of inflammatory related issue. You have a bursae (lubricainting sheath around that area that allows the connective tissue to glide over each other when repeated flex/extent on the knee joint). Commonly referred to as bursitis. It could be something along those lines. Does it tend to give you more grief on colder rides or at the beginning on the ride and then warm up a bit. Then hit you again after you have stopped. How long has this been happening for? Was the sled work an intensive session and something out of the ordinary. Hard to diagnose a problem over a forum !!!

Brusitis? (I had to Wikki) :) Maybe.. I don''t know; All I know is that area behind the outer top corner of the Patella is sensitive to pressure and it cramps up when I did a light 1/2 hour ride.

I haven't done much excercise since I noticed it on Saturday. The last day I was in the gym was Friday. The sled work was routine, but more intensive than usual. I was able to complete full reps on the last set. Something that I haven't beeen able to do previously. (5 sets, 8 reps each, start at 600 lbs / end at 800 lbs) I will go to the gym today and do some light sled work to see how it behaves.

I had a nightmare last night that I ripped the muscle off of the bone doing heavy sleds ... which obviously would really suck.

Thanks for your insight/input.

T.J.

if there was a good sized tear you would be crying ... ask an orthopedic specialist to make sure.... most likely they will tell you to rest for a bit before and see if it gets better....

Yeah... this is what I figure too... I will take it easy for a while to see if it clears up. Thanks.

It just kills me that I won't be maintaining / increasing the intensity of my training, I was making big gains both on and off the bike. :(

Rest, ice, compression, elevation (RICE)... anti-inflammatory medication will help settle it down. If it is really specific to the upper-lateral quadrant of the quadriceps insertion onto the patella, it could be something as simple as tendinitis. If this is quite acute and you haven't felt it niggle in the past then this could be the answer. If it has been bugging you for a little while and its getting worse, then it may have progressed into a more serious pathology. But as stated previously, a tear would be unlikely given its location. There are some taping techniques that can help take the load of that area once you get back into cycling

I never had this in the past and only started feeling it last weekend after a intense session in the gym Friday. I had a lighter workout in the gym yesterday and it felt fine while on the excercise bike. However, it did feel a bit strained when I got into my last set of Leg Sled at 80% of my usual wieight, so I stopped. I have no pian or discomfort today.

I will give heed to caution and give it some RICE :) until the weekend.

Thanks Dr. Rossi Scratch, :)

Not to dig up an old post, but I am experiencing a very similar injury. I was doing a lot of sprint work and have developed the same issue. What ended up happening?