The groin is a collection of muscles--called adductor muscles--that run along the inner portion of the thigh and allow you to pull your legs toward each other. If you tear or rupture these muscles during physical exercise, you may have sustained a groin strain or pull. Talk with your doctor or physical therapist if you experience any groin strain symptoms.
Groin Pain, Swelling or Stiffness
The most common groin strain symptom experienced by patients is groin pain. Painful symptoms can occur suddenly or may progressively develop over time, depending upon the type of groin muscle damage that occurred. Sudden groin pain may be preceded by an audible popping or snapping sound or sensation, which can occur when the adductor muscles are torn, warns Aurora Health Care, a non-profit health care provider based in Milwaukee. A groin strain typically causes painful sensations to develop within the inner region of the thigh near the pubic bone. Painful groin symptoms can also be accompanied by swelling or stiffness near the injured body region. Your groin can be tender to the touch or you may find it difficult to move the affected hip normally. The severity of groin pain, swelling or stiffness can vary from mild to severe. These groin strain symptoms will progressively subside as your adductor muscles begin to heal.
Groin Muscle Weakness
Damage to your adductor muscles can negatively impact the strength of these muscles. If you experience a groin strain, you can find it difficult to pull your knees together due to groin muscle weakness. Muscle weakness within the groin region can also occur in conjunction with muscle spasms or pain in the abdomen or thigh, say health providers at Chicago Chiropractic and Sports Injury Centers in Illinois. Limit the use of your adductor muscles if you experience groin muscle weakness or pain in order to prevent permanent damage.
Groin Bruising
If the delicate blood vessels of your skin are damaged due to a groin strain injury, you can develop bruising at the affected site. Bruising occurs when broken blood vessels leak small amounts of blood at the surface of the skin. Initially, the bruised groin region can appear red or purple in color. As your groin injury begins to heal, the damaged skin may temporarily appear yellow, green or black in color. Bruised groin skin can be tender to the touch and can also occur in conjunction with groin pain or swelling.
