It's easy to assume all the ways i muscles of our legs stretch, flex and work in synergy to enable us to accomplish every movement in our life.
Walking, getting up, sitting down, running: these are all activities made possible by the work and coordination of the 10 major muscles of the legs and many other smaller muscles and tendons.
You may never think about your leg muscles until you feel some pain, often from strains, strains, and cramps.
We learn more about the muscles of the upper and lower legs of our legs and the main causes of muscle pain in the thighs and calves.
Index
What are the muscles of the upper leg?
There are two main muscle groups in the upper leg:
- Quadriceps: composed of 4 muscles in the front of the thigh, which are among the strongest in the whole body; they work to straighten or extend the leg and are:
- vast lateral: the largest muscle; it is located on the outer part of the thigh and extends from the top of the femur to the patella;
- vastus medialis: this inner thigh muscle extends from the femur to the knee;
- vast intermediate: located between the vastus lateral and the medial, it is the deepest quadriceps muscle;
- rectus femorisAttached to the hip bone, this muscle helps extend or lift the knee and flex the thigh and hip.
- Hamstrings of the thigh: the main work of these muscles is to bend or flex the knee. They are:
- hamstring: extending from the lower part of the hip bone to the shin bone, this muscle helps flex the knee and extend the hip;
- semimembranosus: extends from the pelvis to the shin and serves to extend the thigh, flex the knee and rotate the shin;
- semitendinosus: Located between the other two hamstrings, it helps extend the hip and rotate the thigh and shin.
What are the muscles of the lower leg? 
The lower part of our legs goes froml knee to ankle; the lower major muscles are located in the calf, behind the tibia. The lower muscles include:
- gastrocnemius: it goes from the knee to the ankle and helps to extend the foot, the ankle and the knee;
- soleus: located in the back of the calf; it helps to get up from the ground when walking and to stabilize the posture when standing;
- plantar: this small muscle is located behind the knee; it has a limited role in helping to flex the knee and ankle and is absent in 10% of the population.
What can cause pain in the thigh muscles?
The causes of thigh pain can range from minor muscle injuries to vascular or nerve problems; some of the more common causes include:
- muscle tension: occur when the fibers of a muscle are stretched or torn; the main causes are: muscle abuse, fatigue, insufficient warm-up or muscle imbalance (when stronger muscles are close to weaker ones, they can get injured);
- ilio-tibial band syndrome: a long piece of connective tissue that goes from the hip to the knee and helps rotate the hip and stabilize the knee, can become inflamed due to repetitive and excessive movements;
- muscle cramps: temporary involuntary contractions of a muscle often caused by dehydration, low mineral levels, muscle fatigue, poor circulation.
What can cause pain in the calf muscles?
Calf pain can be caused by muscle and tendon injuries, conditions related to nerves and blood vessels, and certain health conditions;
- calf tear: when one of the two main muscles of the calf has been excessively pulled; symptoms include: pain, swelling, limited range of motion;
- Achilles tendonitis: it is a common injury that results from excessive use or sudden movements of the Achilles tendon; this tendon attaches the calf muscles to the heel bone;
- muscle cramps: as for the thighs, they can also come to the calves; sudden, sharp pain is the main symptom of the cramp.
To reduce the risk of injury and thigh and calf problems, always warm up the leg muscles before training and stretch when finished. It can also help to do resistance exercises, keep yourself well hydrated and not sit too long.
And you, did you know the thigh muscles? Have you ever had muscle problems? Let us know in the comments and remember to follow us on our dedicated Telegram channel ????
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