Q Hi, I have been having pain in my right legs upper thigh muscles (only the rig for more than a couple of weeks now. It mostly occurs when i walk, so its not a constant pain. I take long brisk walks in the evenings; 9-10 kms, and assuming that it could have been a muscle pull, i have tried to moderate the walk in terms of speed and length, but the problem is still sustaining. Although, once i have paced a few initial kms and having warmed up in that way, the pain subsides, but its still there whenever theres that inadvertent extra push just before lifting the feet towards the next step. What could be the problem and what caution or physio measures can i take to correct the situation, and could there be any other reasons for this pain, other than a probable muscle pull?
Take a break from exercise for a week so as to allow the strained muscles to heal completely. Then for a week after that, limit your walking to 5 kilometres per day at a moderate speed. Make sure you warm up before you start exercising. Stretches before and after the walk are a must. Post walking, you must allow your body to cool down by lying down for a few minutes. Have water before, during and after the walk. Listen to your bodys signals and slow down or stop whenever you feel tired. If the problem resolves, you can increase the pace and intensity upto the earlier levels. If not, you might need further investigations.