Groin injuries are common, especially among athletes. According to the website Sports Injury Bulletin, a groin injury may be caused by a bruise, stretching or tearing of the muscle fibers that run from the front of the hip to the bone on the inside aspect of the thigh and leg. The groin muscles—also known as hip adductor muscles, move the thigh toward the body's midline. They include the following: adductor longus, adductor brevis, adductor magnus, gracilis and pectineus. Groin injury symptoms may require medical attention.
Pain
Pain is a common symptom of groin injuries, especially hip adductor muscle strains. According to Sports Injury Clinic, hip adductor muscle strains may be caused by a rupture or tear of one or more of the muscles on the inside aspect of the thigh during sprinting, from quick directional changes or from rapid movements of the leg against resistance, such as kicking a soccer ball.
Muscle strains, including hip adductor muscle strains, are graded on a scale of one to three, based on severity. Grade one groin strains are characterized by inner thigh discomfort that may not be apparent until after a person stops exercising. Grade two groin strains involve a sudden, sharp pain in the groin area during exercise and a tightening of the groin muscles that may not be apparent until the following day. Grade three groin strains are characterized by severe pain during exercise, along with an inability to squeeze the thighs together.
Decreased Range of Motion
Groin strains may decrease hip range of motion on the involved side and reduce the ability to ambulate and perform activities of daily living. While hip decreased range of motion may be a symptom of a hip adductor muscle strain, it may also be a contributing factor to the strain. According to a 2007 study by A. Ibrahim and colleagues published in the "Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery," decreased hip range of motion may be considered a causative factor in the occurrence of adductor strain in male professional soccer players. A 2007 study by Geoffrey M. Verrall and colleagues published in the "Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport" offers similar conclusions, stating that hip stiffness is associated with later development of chronic groin injury, and is a significant risk factor for hip adductor muscle strain.
Swelling, Inflammation & Bruising
Swelling, inflammation and bruising may occur in the involved hip adductor muscle group following a groin strain. Sports Injury Clinic states that a person experiencing groin inflammation due to a hip adductor muscle strain may feel pain with resisted hip flexion and will have difficulty running, especially sprinting. Along with inflammation, hip adductor muscle strains typically are accompanied by swelling and bruising in the involved area. To avoid groin strains, pain, decreased range of motion, swelling, inflammation and bruising, athletes—especially hockey and soccer players—should strengthen their adductor muscles and perform core and pelvic stabilization exercises on a regular basis.
References
- Sports Injury Bulletin: Groin Strain Causes
- Sports Injury Clinic: Groin Strain
- "Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery"; Adductor Strain and Hip Range of Movement; A. Ibrahim et al.; 2007
- "Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport"; Hip Joint Range of Motion Restriction; Geoffrey M. Verrall et al.; December 2007
