4/28/16

Biceps Femoris Location and Pain Patterns

Biceps Femoris is one of the hamstring muscles on the back of the upper leg. Like the Biceps Brachii of the upper arm, the Biceps Femoris has two parts. The long head attaches to the ischial tuberosity, or sit bone; the short head attaches to the back of the femur, and they join together to cross the outside knee joint and attach to the head of the fibula, the smaller bone of the lower leg.

The long head of the Biceps Femoris acts primarily to extend the leg at the hip, and both divisions of the muscle flex the knee. When the knee is bent, Biceps Femoris helps with rotation of the hip.

Athletes often overstretch the hamstrings, which can cause pain at the tendinous attachments at the ischial tuberosity and around the knee. Football and soccer players commonly injure Biceps Femoris. Sitting for long periods can irritate any of the hamstrings. Additionally, clusters of trigger points can develop in Biceps Femoris, causing pain on the back of the upper leg, and also referring pain to the back and outside of the knee.

Tight hamstrings often accompany a sore low back and internal rotators deep to gluteus maximus. Additionally, the quadratus femoris muscles on the front of the legs often harbor trigger points. These conditions typically go together so massage should comprehensively address the upper legs and low back.