Quadricep Muscles

The Quadriceps are the large muscle group at the front of the thigh. The quads are divided into four distinct portions and act to extend the leg.

Location:

• At the front of the Thigh.

• All four parts of the quadriceps group come from the tibial tuberosity (the bump of the tibia located just below the kneecap).

• The other ends of the muscles attach at different places.

• Tension in this muscle can affect the hip joint.

Components:

1. Vastus Medialis – attached to the femur on the inside

2. Vastus Lateralis - attached to the femur on the outside

3. Vastus Intermedius - attached to the femur between the above

4. Rectus Femoris – crosses the knee and the hip joint and attaches to the pelvis (not the femur). It can create movement of the hip and knee because it is a two joint muscle (it can affect the movement of two joints).

Yoga implications:

The quadriceps can restrict several movements in yoga postures:

• e.g. Hero Pose (Virasana) - restriction through not allowing the knees to flex completely.

• e.g. Backbends – restrict the ability to posteriorly tilt the pelvis.

Further reading:

This is one of the muscle groups that can have an impact on the hip joint. Read more about the Hip Joint in a separate article.

You can also read separate articles on other muscles around the hip joint:

1. The Quadriceps (this article is one of the articles in the series)

2. The Hamstrings

3. The Adductors

4. The Gluteals

5. The Deep Six Lateral Rotators

6. The Psoas