Dear MendMeShop,

I am certified in Rolfing, a form of deep, integrative bodywork and Massage. I use my hands alot for this work. Last September I broke my cardinal rule to limit activities outside work that would stress my hands. I laid down a bamboo floor on two stories of my house. I used a jigsaw and hydraulic nail gun which were hard on my hands. Shortly after completing the work, my right thumb gave out. It would either click and hang up when I bent it or lock up completely and refuse to bend at all. It was stiff and painful. After trying a number of home remedies including rest, ice, heat, essential oils, and manual manipulation, I finally went to see a hand doctor and yes, you guessed it, my choice was surgery or cortisone shots which are only effective in about a third of the cases. His diagnosis was "trigger thumb." The tendon was damaged, swollen and scarred, creating a lump so it would no longer move easily through the tendon sheath. The operation did not remove the lump, but rather slit the tendon sheath so the lump could move unimpeded. Well, that did not sound so great to me, as I think about fluids that the sheath contains and how the dynamics of my thumb may change forever. Having worked with many clients over the last ten years, I have seen how the body never really goes back to factory spec after a surgery, so if there were any other solutions, I wanted to find them. In March I found Mend Me Shop's website and read about the portable Ultrasound Machine. I ordered it that day along with a supply of gel. I have had consistent improvement in my thumb. I maintained the same work schedule and began their treatment protocol. At first I noticed the general tightness and swelling went down, then I noticed that the strength was returning. Some time after that, my thumb began to move again, sometime with clicking and sometime without. I have done several thirty day protocols so far and I am absolutely certain that my thumb will heal completely. The other day I had a totally normal thumb for the entire day, which delighted me and is a good indication of the healing that is taking place. We are often too much in a hurry to fix things, and rush into surgery or harmful medications. The body has enormous capabilities to heal and sometimes needs just a little help and patience. I find the staff at Mend Me Shop extremely knowledgeable and helpful. Customer Service is obviously a very important thing to them, which I appreciate, as that is how I treat my clients and it is nice to find that level of service me. I hope if you are reading this that you give this unit a try. The ability to apply the treatment yourself is not only cost effective, but also better from a healing perspective because as you follow the treatment protocol outlined for your condition, you can see and feel the accumulative effect. This would be difficult, not to mention expensive, if you had to go to an outside service.

Rating: Five Star Rating

Rita Singh

Treatments for a Quadriceps Strain

Early diagnosis and proper treatment are important to prevent a quadriceps strain from becoming chronic; it doesn't take much to change a grade 1 strain into a grade 2 strain. Injuries to the muscle belly are best managed with adherence to the conservative treatment methods, which includes modifying and/or eliminating the activities that cause tenderness or discomfort in your quadriceps area, and performing gentle strengthening and stretching once initial inflammation has gone down. Scar tissue can often develop with pulled quadriceps, where your soft tissue has pulled away from the bone. As your damaged quadriceps tissues heal this dead, fibrotic tissue will be produced instead of forming brand new healthy tissue.

This tissue adheres to your muscle fibers, tendons, ligaments, fascia, nerves, and joints causing pain and preventing them from moving properly (this limits your range of motion, flexibility and strength). Patience is required with a quadriceps strain, as it can take time to revert to your normal state. Quadriceps injuries often heal on their own but without proper rehab, they may not heal properly.

Returning to your activities too early can lead to chronic pain, which becomes much more difficult to treat afterwards. Allowing your injuries to heal properly is critical. Impatience in healing is one of the main causes that change a minor quadriceps injury into a chronic quadriceps injury.

Treatment methods and recovery time is really based on the severity of your strain, whether you have an acute or chronic strain, the type of treatment you receive, as well as your commitment to proper rehabilitation. Torn ligaments and tendons require as much time as a fracture.

Grade 1 quadriceps strains tend to take between a 1 - 3 weeks, and respond best to conservative home treatments, ultrasound and stretching/strengthening exercises.

Grade 2 quadriceps strains tend take between 3 - 8 weeks, and responds best to conservative home treatments, ultrasound and possible support aids, therapies and medications, along with a focused exercise program.

Grade 3 quadriceps strains tend to take between 2- 6 months (depending on if you require surgery), and often involve immediate medical attention, supportive aids, therapies, medication and possibly surgery, along with a regimented exercise program.

A good reference point for healing is once you've regained approximately 90% of your pre-injury strength, have 120 degrees of flexion, little quadriceps weakness, and you are pain free, you can return to your normal activities.

Serious athletes may undergo isokinetic strength testing following a muscle injury and during rehabilitation to help set up a customized exercise program. This is an indicator of recovery that tests range of knee movement; concentric, eccentric and isometric strength testing; endurance testing; quadricep: hamstring ratio (ideally 100:75); and will identify areas of weakness areas.

URICE: - This philosophy is used to decrease inflammation and relieve pain for a chronic or diagnosed pulled quadricep within the first 48 hours of a flare-up:

Ultrasound around your injured quadriceps for 5 - 10 minutes, 3 times per day. This is best accomplished with a personal, therapeutic ultrasound device.

Rest your quadriceps and leg and limit your activity; you may want to use a walking aid (cane or crutches) to prevent immediate weight bearing or a knee immobilizer (brace or cast) to prevent unnecessary movement, if severely damaged or painful.

Ice your quadriceps area 2-3 times/day for approximately 15 - 20 minutes at a time to help reduce blood flow and fluid build up in your quadriceps. Gel packs are a better option than frozen peas if possible, as they mold to your knee shape and are reusable (do not apply ice/gel packs directly on your skin, instead wrap cold compress in a wrap or cloth.

Compress your quadriceps if possible by adding light pressure to minimize swelling (make sure the compress is snug, but not too tight as it could cause numbness, tingling or more pain).

Re-freezable cold therapy compresses are excellent because they provide ice therapy, compression and a protective covering to prevent skin burn from the cold. This combination drives the cold deeper into the injured tissue than regular ice packs, and speeds the healing process. These compresses are fitted to your foot, easy to use, mess-free and re-usable.

Elevate your legs above chest level to relieve the pressure and allow any fluid to drain from your injured area.

If you do not have access to ultrasound therapy or you have experienced an acute quadriceps injury and/or have not been diagnosed, adhere to the RICE philosophy within the first 48 - 72 hours. Gentle massage around the quadricep area or small flexing or extending movements will also help increase blood flow, oxygen, nutrients, and will prevent scar tissue development.


Or email us at service@MendMeShop.com

Dear MendMeShop,

I purchased the ultrasound device for tendonitis in my knee and I noticed a decrease in pain in about two weeks. I've had this condition for about ten years and I've tried all types of things, all types of physical therapy and nothing worked. But this device definitely helped. Thank you MendMeShop.

Rating: Five Star Rating

Jamaal Williams

pain relief and injury treatment with ultrasound therapy

This universal leg wrap can increase healing rate of a shin, calf, groin, thigh, or hamstring

Freezie Leg wrap for cold compression of the shin, calf, groin, thigh, or hamstring

Inferno Wrap Elbow for tennis elbow, epicondylitis, elbow strains and elbow sprain

Freezie Wrap Elbow for tennis elbow, epicondylitis, and elbow sprain to prevent surgery

Blood Flow Stimulation Therapy with an Inferno Back wrap for the ultimate in sore back healing

Freeze Wrap Back - reduce back pain and swelling in sore, strained or overused muscles, especially in the lower back and trapezius muscles

Inferno Wrap Shoulder - an advanced treatment for shoulder injury and rotator cuff injury

Freezie Wrap Shoulder - efficient relief of swelling and pain from an active sprain, shoulder strain, whiplash, or tight upper back muscles

Contact one of our Mendmeshop Customer Service Advisors for any questions help with ordering and recommended treatment directions