Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsAnatomyFunctionAssociated ConditionsRehabilitationExercises
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Anatomy
Function
Associated Conditions
Rehabilitation
Exercises
Thesartoriusmuscle is a long muscle that runs from the front of the thigh to the knee and helps to rotate the thigh and flex the knee. Sartorius muscle pain can cause swelling, pain, and weakness in the muscle and limit mobility.
This article discusses the anatomy and function of the sartorius muscle, as well as what might cause pain in the muscle and what to do about it.
Symptoms of Sartorius Muscle Injury
Sartorius muscle injuries may cause symptoms in the upper part of your leg that include:
The sartorius muscle starts at the front part of your pelvis called the anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS). From there, the muscle courses down across the front of your thigh.
It then crosses your inner knee, inserting in the front of your shin bone at a place called thepesanserine. The pes anserine is called thegoosefootand is the insertion point for the sartorius,gracilismuscle, and the semi-tendinosis muscle of thehamstring.
The muscle is very long, and it can be palpated or touched in the front part of your hip near your pelvic bone. Simply place your hand on the bony part of your pelvis in front of your hip. Then, flex your thigh up and rotate it outward; the muscle that protrudes is the sartorius.
sportpoint / Getty Images
Since the sartorius muscle is very long and crosses two joints (the hip and the knee) it serves many functions for your body and lower extremities, including:
These different actions of the sartorius make it a unique muscle that moves your hips and knees in various directions. It also means that the sartorius may be involved in a few different problems and conditions.
The sartorius muscle receives blood supply from various arteries that penetrate the muscle at irregular intervals. These blood vessels include the superficial circumflex iliac, the lateral femoral, and the deep femoral arteries of your thigh.
Your sartorius muscles may be involved in several different conditions that may limit your functional mobility.
These may include:
If you have leg pain or weakness, visit your healthcare provider right away to get an accurate diagnosis and to start the proper treatment for your condition.
If you have an injury to your sartorius, you may benefit from working with aphysical therapist(PT) during rehabilitation. The treatments you receive from your PT may vary based on your specific injury.
These injuries include:
An injury to the sartorius muscle usually occurs in conjunction with an injury to another thigh muscle, like the psoas or thequadriceps. These muscles all work together to move your thigh and knee, and therefore an injury to one muscle may also affect the others.
Most problems with the sartorius and associated muscles heal within four to six weeks. Your specific course of treatment may be shorter or longer depending on the severity of your injury and any other health issues or injuries you have.
Your healthcare provider and physical therapist can help you understand your specific prognosis when it comes to an injury to your sartorius.
Exercises to strengthen the sartorius muscle include the following. Aim to repeat each exercise 10 to 15 times (on both sides if the exercise is done one leg at a time).
Squats
Lunges
Lateral Step- Ups
Clamshells
Summary
The sartorius, or tailor’s muscle, is the longest muscle in your body. It runs from the pelvis to the knee and helps you flex and rotate your hip and flex your knee. Sartorius muscle pain can cause pain, weakness, swelling, and stiffness in the muscle. Physical therapy as well as specific exercises can help relieve the symptoms and restore function.
Hip Flexor Muscles and Injuries
SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Lee B, Stubbs E. Sartorius muscle tear presenting as acute meralgia paresthetica.Clin Imaging.2018;51:209-212. DOI:10.1016/j.clinimag.2018.05.011Wysocki J, Krasuski P, Czubalski A. Vascularization of the sartorius muscle. Folia Morphol (Warsz). 1996;55(2):115-20.
Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Lee B, Stubbs E. Sartorius muscle tear presenting as acute meralgia paresthetica.Clin Imaging.2018;51:209-212. DOI:10.1016/j.clinimag.2018.05.011Wysocki J, Krasuski P, Czubalski A. Vascularization of the sartorius muscle. Folia Morphol (Warsz). 1996;55(2):115-20.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Lee B, Stubbs E. Sartorius muscle tear presenting as acute meralgia paresthetica.Clin Imaging.2018;51:209-212. DOI:10.1016/j.clinimag.2018.05.011Wysocki J, Krasuski P, Czubalski A. Vascularization of the sartorius muscle. Folia Morphol (Warsz). 1996;55(2):115-20.
Lee B, Stubbs E. Sartorius muscle tear presenting as acute meralgia paresthetica.Clin Imaging.2018;51:209-212. DOI:10.1016/j.clinimag.2018.05.011
Wysocki J, Krasuski P, Czubalski A. Vascularization of the sartorius muscle. Folia Morphol (Warsz). 1996;55(2):115-20.
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