Journal Club - Quads

In this episode, the panel takes a deep dive into the rehabilitation of rectus femoris injuries in soccer, using a recent Aspetar publication as the foundation for a practical, clinician-focused discussion. The conversation explores why quad injuries, while less common than other muscle injuries, remain challenging due to the unique demands of kicking, sprinting, and rotational movements that are difficult to replicate during rehabilitation. The group examines key return-to-play principles, objective testing strategies, and the shift away from traditional timeline-based rehabilitation toward an individualized, milestone-driven approach. Along the way, they share clinical pearls on strength testing, kicking progressions, running protocols, and injury prevention strategies, while debating how aggressive clinicians should be when progressing athletes back to sport. Packed with real-world experiences, evidence-based insights, and practical exercise recommendations, this episode offers athletic trainers and sports medicine professionals valuable takeaways for reducing re-injury risk and optimizing outcomes following quadriceps injuries in soccer players.Aspetar - The Aspetar Rectus Femoris Injury Rehabilitation Pathway