Groin Strain

A groin strain is a tear in one of the muscle in your pelvis including lower abdominal muscles or thigh muscle. It normally affects where the muscle meets the tendon. When there is repetitive strain it becomes tendinosis and the injury will be where the tendon gets attached to the bone.

Groin strains are common in athletes who does repetitive twisting, turning, sprinting and kicking. Groin strain is common in sports like ice Hockey and soccer.

The groin muscle consists of 3 large group of muscles that can be Injured.

Adductor muscles which is in the inner part of your thighs, abdominal muscles seen on the lower part of your abdomen and Iliopsoas group which is in front of your groin.

Groin Strain Cause

Groin strain is caused by sudden side stepping, twisting, sudden change in direction or over stretching of the muscle during sport. It may be also caused by poor running technique.

Groin Strain Symptoms

The main muscle group that is usually involved in groin strain is your adductor muscle group in the inner thighs.

Sudden sharp pain in the inner thigh or groin and then this becomes a dull ache. You may have bruising and swelling in severe strains and there will be tenderness in your groin. You may feel pain when you try to bring your legs together.

Once the initial pain subsides you may develop pain further down due to muscle weakness. When the abdominal muscles are involved you will feel pain with coughing and sneezing.

Muscle stains are classified in to 3 grades

Grade 1-The muscle is over stretched to cause a minor damage few muscle fibers or a “pulled muscle”

Grade 2-a partial muscle tear or approximately half of the muscle fibres are torn

More painful and tender than grade 1.  In grade I and II strains there will be intense pain in the groin area, like sudden stabbing pain. There may be swelling and bruising in the painful area

Grade3–  more than half of the fibres to a complete muscle tear

This kind of injuries will be very painful, tender, swollen and bruised. There may have been a popping sensation at the time of injury and you will be unable to walk or use your affected leg to continue the activity

Groin Strain Treatment

 The treatment of groin strain is mostly conservative and surgical treatment is rarely done. Your Physiotherapist will be able to an assessment and come up with appropriate treatment plan to help you back to normal activities or sports. Initial treatment is focussed on reducing pain, protecting the muscle from further strain and at the same time minimizing the effects of not moving with gentle exercises. Later the treatment is aimed at regaining full range of movement, strength, coordination and endurance. Return to sports can take from 3 to 6 months depending on the severity of the injury.