Pain in the thigh

The thigh is located between the pelvis and the knee. It consists of one bone called the femur. The femur is surrounded by muscles. Pain in the thigh can occur acutely, as with a bone fracture or a muscle tear. However, many complaints can also develop gradually.

Anatomy of the thigh

The thigh consists of the femur and two adjacent joints (the hip and the knee). Surrounding the femur are eleven muscles, two large nerves, and several blood vessels.

Thigh muscles
The thigh muscles can be divided into three groups based on location: 

• Front. 
• Back. 
• Inner side. 

At the front there are three muscles, the best known of which is the quadriceps. The quadriceps has traditionally been divided into four heads. However, scientists have discovered that the muscle also has a fifth head.

The five heads of the quadriceps converge just above the knee into a common tendon. Each head originates somewhere on the thigh or the pelvis. However, they share a common function – they all help to extend the knee and flex the hip. 

The muscles at the back of the thigh are also called the hamstrings. They consist of three separate muscles. These muscles help extend the hip and bend the knee. 

The group of muscles on the inside of the thigh, known as the adductors, consists of five muscles that rotate the hip and move the leg inward.

Nerves and blood vessels
The nerves of the thigh ensure that we can control our muscles and perceive pain. The blood vessels provide the muscles with nutrients and remove waste products. Pain in the thigh can sometimes be a sign of a problem elsewhere in the body. Sometimes this is related to nerves and blood vessels, but pain radiating from the hip can also be felt over the thigh.

Check your symptoms

Do you have pain in your thigh? You may want to get a good idea of what might be causing it. Start by doing the online physiotherapy check. Indicate where you feel the pain and then answer a number of questions about your thigh complaints. 

At the end of the physiotherapy check, your symptoms will be compared with the most common conditions and injuries in physiotherapy. If you like, you can visit a physiotherapy practice for professional help.

Thigh conditions

Various conditions and injuries can cause pain in the thigh. This overview summarises the main conditions.