Squats, lunges and muscle weakness

wonderwoman234

When I do squatting to parallel, I have noticed mild strain/discomfort in my right leg, at the top of my thigh muscle about a few inches below my hip bone. It feels like that part of the muscle is not strong enough and is at risk of tearing if I am not careful. I have also noticed when I do walking lunges that the right leg does not seem as strong as my left one to the point of feeling like I will buckle on the right side.

I did have a mild pull in my right gluteal a few weeks ago but I laid off for a week, did the foam roller, stretching, icing and rest and it feels fine and dandy.

Finally, whenever I get injured, it is in my right leg or foot. Guess maybe biomechanics are at play.

Anyone have any suggestions for strengthening those upper thigh muscles so I can squat low and do lunges well in BOTH legs?

My trainer is basically useless.....but I prepaid him so I'm stuck with him for a few months. He has me doing higher reps with little rest in between. I told him I wanted to do Stronglifts 5x5 but he does stuff with me that feels more cardio in nature (step ups, only giving me 30 seconds between lifts, etc.). I'm afraid I'm going to get injured.

Any advice would be helpful. Don't tell me to fire him. I have to see him a few times a week at my gym and I just joined this new gym and love it!

Fit_Fox88

Is it a chain gym with a personal training service? If so and you paid for the services of one trainer perhaps you can speak to the personal training manager and see if there is someone else you can work with. I would also suggest using the abductor/adductor machine to build your inner/outer thigh muscles.

wonderwoman234

That is a good idea. When I joined this new gym and started doing freeweights, I stopped using the leg adductor and abductor machines. But I will start them again!