What are the Functions of the Quadriceps Muscle?

When it comes to the quadriceps, many people do not have a specific understanding of it, nor do they know which part of the body it belongs to. In fact, the quadriceps is an important muscle located on the thigh of the human body, arguably the largest muscle tissue in the human body. It plays a crucial role in maintaining body balance and ensuring smooth walking and jumping. So, what are the functions of the quadriceps? Let's briefly explore this aspect below.

1. Quadriceps affects the movement of the patella

As everyone knows, the quadriceps is a crucial muscle in the body. In addition, it actually exerts pulling forces on the patella in different directions, thereby influencing its movement. In reality, people are somewhat aware that the direction of patella movement affects the tension levels experienced by different parts of the patellar tendon, which is related to the location of patellar tendon injuries. Although this may sound somewhat convoluted, the health of the quadriceps significantly impacts the movement and positioning of our bones.

2. Quadriceps affects the hamstring muscle group

The balance between the muscle strength of the quadriceps and the hamstring muscle group is greatly influenced by the function of the hamstring muscle group. In other words, if the muscle strength of the quadriceps is too strong, it may suppress the function and development of the hamstring muscle group, significantly affecting its functionality. Furthermore, the quadriceps plays a role in our ability to bend our knees. If our knees are too easily bent, it is not a good phenomenon. Especially for athletes who have sustained hamstring injuries, it is essential to adopt the hamstring braking principle. By relaxing the quadriceps and performing certain stretches, one can immediately feel a certain degree of relief.

3. Quadriceps affects muscle adduction and abduction

The quadriceps has a fascia, and through the influence of the fascia, there is a certain relationship between the activation level of the medial thigh muscle and the adductor muscle. Additionally, there is also a certain correlation between the activation level of the lateral thigh muscle and the iliotibial band. From this perspective, although the medial and lateral thigh muscles do not have the function of hip adduction and abduction, they can assist in hip adduction and abduction.