Self-Care – Pain Inside of Knee Sometime Across Thigh

Don’t Be Cross

The figure-4 cross-legged posture aggravates this trigger point. The sartorius stabilizes and remains active even when you seem relaxed. Crossing your legs with your knees together is less stressful for this muscle.

Also, being stable for long periods without a place for the knee to rest can maintain tension in this muscle.

Uneven Ground

This muscle also stabilizes the hip to the knee when walking. Consequently, uneven ground, especially uneven steps, aggravates this knee pain.

See a Professional

Several serious problems create these symptoms. The spiraling pain could be a disc in your back. Also, the pain at the knee could be a meniscus tear. Both of those are serious complications, if they get worse.

Pain Patch

Place a pain patch in the center of the pain. In most cases, this will be on the inside of the thigh, close to the knee.

Also, a little stroking of ice along the muscle helps. Follow a path from the inside of the knee along a diagonal toward the corner of the hip. Consequently, this tends to relax the muscle by reducing trigger point activity. Almost immediately, the thigh should move with reduced tension.

It is a Bit Complicated

The position in this illustration creates a stretch on several hip flexors, including the sartorius muscle. When the sartorius is taut with trigger points, it will produce some referral across the diagonal of the muscle. At times, the foot will turn in when the sartorius is tight. However, the other muscles have a great deal of influence here. Notably, when the tensor fascia lata is taut, the foot will be drawn laterally as it dangles below the knee.

Tips for Success

Here are a few tips. First, sit on the edge of a table, firm bed, porch, etc. Second, draw the other leg close to your chest. Next, lay back while keeping your knee drawn to your chest. Then, focus on breathing and relaxing the dangling leg while the hip flexors open. If you can, stay here for 90 seconds or more.

This is a gentle stretch of the sartorius. At first, the sartorius may produce some referral but should relax as the hip flexors relax and the knee lowers. A stroke of ice over the muscle will allow it to relax more quickly and with less discomfort.

A Caution

This position also stretches the iliopsoas, rectus femoris, and tensor fascia lata. To a lesser extent, other muscles are lengthened as well. If you have sharp pain across the lower back, stop this stretch. In that case, stretch the psoas muscle first, using gentle stretches from this other post.

Start Gently

Sartorius is a complex muscle. Also, it creates concerning, sharp pain in the medial knee. Accordingly, start with some simple hip openers, like Pigeon. It is the more aggressive version of the passive stretch discussed above.

Hip Opener with Lateral Rotator Stretch

Adding a lateral rotator stretch creates a great stretch on the sartorius. However, this is aggressive and can create stress on the medial knee. So, try this mermaid pose, which allows you to hold the back leg in external rotation.

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