petrolhead

Hi, I've been training hard for a 320km (200 mile) organised annual endurance ride/race that's in four weeks time. I've been riding 600 to 800kms a month, gym four times a week, and one hour cardio sessions two mornings a week for the last nine or ten months. I'm a 48 year old male, resonably fit.
Last week I forgot how old I am and played a game of touch football (a fast running game), and tore my rectus femoris. It's a 5cm x 2cm partial tear, up near my groin.
What I'd like to know is, has anyone experienced this kind of injury and how long did recovery take? I appreciate that this kind of post always has a 'see your doctor' reponse, which i've done. I've been to my doctor, have had an ultrasound and am starting regular physio today.
The thing is, I've had mixed professional advice. Physio (with no cycling injury experience) says stay of the bike for two weeks, then light spinning, 6 to 8 weeks to be back to normal performance, whereas a phsyio who works with top cycling teams says get back on the trainer now and spin, that muscle's not critical for cycling, and I'll be good to go in two or three weeks. I have rested with my leg elevated for three days, compression bandage, ice 20 minutes every two hours, and I'm now reasonably mobile. I have my heart set on doing this 320km ride, but want to know if I'm dreaming? Any suggestions/comments please? Thanks!

LazinCajun

I have no experience with these things so no advice, I just wanted to say "Ouch." Get well soon.

petrolhead

Thanks, the pain of the injury's pretty well gone, but the physio telling me I most likely wont be fixed by the enduro hurts!

chasm54

I doubt if anyone, including a qualified physio, can tell you with any certainty how long this will take. Injuries vary and so do individual responses. My advice would be to experiment. Get on the trainer and spin gently. If it hurts, stop. If not, carry on for say twenty minutes. See how you feel the following day. Any reaction? Don't get back on the trainer till it has gone. But if you feel fine, do a bit more. Rinse and repeat.

Nightshade

"I'm a 48 year old male, resonably fit."

At your age you should have sorted out who leads the parade when it comes to doctors.

That person is your family doctor who knows you better than any specialist ever could. Listen to his advice over every other doctor you see.

As to the ride you will miss..........You'll live...now move on.

bobn

This type of injury is probably from overuse. Best bet is to rest it and follow dr's orders.

Looigi

Rectus femoris? Is that anywhere near the angus?

petrolhead

Thanks for all the advice. saw the physio yesterday, smilar advice to 'chasm54' - no exercise until the initial healing has occured, then get on the trainer and spin lighly and see how it goes. Apparently six to eight days is the time frame.

Nightshade, yes, it does look like I'll miss the ride and I will get over it, but it's disappointing after being solely focussed on it for so long. Good call though, move on and set a new goal. Thanks.

petrolhead

Just down from there and across a bit (:

Seriously though, it's the quad muscle that runs down the top of the thigh from groin to knee. Physio tells me that the muscles under the thigh and down each side are the quads that do most of the work in cycling, so i guess that's a good thing. It could've been a truckload worse.