A dead leg, more accurately known as a quadriceps contusion or "corked thigh," works by resulting from direct trauma that damages muscle tissue and blood vessels.
Here's a breakdown of the process:
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Direct Impact: A blunt force, such as a collision with another player or a hard object, strikes the thigh muscle (usually the quadriceps).
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Muscle Damage: The force of the impact crushes muscle fibers and surrounding tissues. This causes microscopic tears in the muscle.
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Blood Vessel Rupture: Small blood vessels (capillaries) within the muscle tear, leading to bleeding into the muscle tissue.
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Hematoma Formation: The escaped blood pools within the muscle, forming a hematoma (a collection of clotted blood). This hematoma puts pressure on the surrounding nerves and tissues, contributing to pain and restricted movement.
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Inflammation: The body initiates an inflammatory response to the injury. This response involves the release of chemicals that cause swelling, pain, and heat in the injured area.
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Pain and Limited Function: The combination of muscle damage, hematoma, and inflammation leads to pain, stiffness, and reduced range of motion in the leg. It can make it difficult to walk, run, or fully extend the leg.
In summary, a dead leg is a contusion where a direct blow damages muscle and blood vessels, leading to internal bleeding, hematoma formation, inflammation, pain, and restricted movement.
