What is it?
A groin strain is a strain of the adductor muscles of the hip which are located on the inside of the thigh. There are 5 muscles that could potentially be involved in the strain; these muscles are Adductor Brevis, Adductor Longus, Adductor Magnus, Gracilis and Pectineus.
What is the cause of it?
A groin strain is where the adductor muscle/s are stretched beyond their limit. This will cause the muscle/s to tear. This type of injury is common in football players and other sports that require you to change direction suddenly at speed and kicking sports. This injury can also be caused by improper or inadequate warm up.
How does it feel?
Initially there may be pain on the inside of the thigh which can occur during or after the activity has finished. There may be pain when stretching the muscle and tender to touch. The pain can be describes as a cramping/tight sensation to burning/stabbing pain depending on the severity of the injury. There may also be some bruising following the injury depending on the severity of the problem. Walking can sometimes become difficult especially when changing direction.
What should you do?
You should perform the RICE regime. Rest requires you to stop your activity or sport. Ice should be applied at the site of injury for 15–20 minutes every few hours. This will help limit the amount of haemorrhaging (bleeding) and swelling. Compressive bandages or compressive shorts should also help as this will reduce the amount of bleeding and reduce the time needed to your normal activities.
Stretching the adductors muscles can be carried out after the acute pain has subsided. This is done by standing with your legs apart, and slowly shifting your body weight to the side while gently bending the knee on the side to which you are leaning. This will aid in your recovery.
You should continue this until you consult your osteopath, preferably within two days of the initial injury.
What you should not do?
Do not carry on with the activity which has caused the injury. Avoid running and jogging. Avoid sudden changes in direction. Avoid kicking activities. You should avoid alcohol as this will increase the amount of bleeding within the muscle causing you to feel more pain.
Could there be any long term effects?
If poorly treated or neglected, this can lead to scar tissue forming and cause recurrent groin strains. If the activities which resulted in the injury are continued they could cause damage to the surround tissues leading to other injuries such as a hip flexor strain and/or osteitis pubis.
A groin strain is a strain of the adductor muscles of the hip which are located on the inside of the thigh. There are 5 muscles that could potentially be involved in the strain; these muscles are Adductor Brevis, Adductor Longus, Adductor Magnus, Gracilis and Pectineus.
What is the cause of it?
A groin strain is where the adductor muscle/s are stretched beyond their limit. This will cause the muscle/s to tear. This type of injury is common in football players and other sports that require you to change direction suddenly at speed and kicking sports. This injury can also be caused by improper or inadequate warm up.
How does it feel?
Initially there may be pain on the inside of the thigh which can occur during or after the activity has finished. There may be pain when stretching the muscle and tender to touch. The pain can be describes as a cramping/tight sensation to burning/stabbing pain depending on the severity of the injury. There may also be some bruising following the injury depending on the severity of the problem. Walking can sometimes become difficult especially when changing direction.
What should you do?
You should perform the RICE regime. Rest requires you to stop your activity or sport. Ice should be applied at the site of injury for 15–20 minutes every few hours. This will help limit the amount of haemorrhaging (bleeding) and swelling. Compressive bandages or compressive shorts should also help as this will reduce the amount of bleeding and reduce the time needed to your normal activities.
Stretching the adductors muscles can be carried out after the acute pain has subsided. This is done by standing with your legs apart, and slowly shifting your body weight to the side while gently bending the knee on the side to which you are leaning. This will aid in your recovery.
You should continue this until you consult your osteopath, preferably within two days of the initial injury.
What you should not do?
Do not carry on with the activity which has caused the injury. Avoid running and jogging. Avoid sudden changes in direction. Avoid kicking activities. You should avoid alcohol as this will increase the amount of bleeding within the muscle causing you to feel more pain.
Could there be any long term effects?
If poorly treated or neglected, this can lead to scar tissue forming and cause recurrent groin strains. If the activities which resulted in the injury are continued they could cause damage to the surround tissues leading to other injuries such as a hip flexor strain and/or osteitis pubis.