A groin strain is a tear or rupture in one of the adductor muscles located in the area between the abdomen and thigh, according to SportsInjuryClinic. The adductor muscles are responsible for pulling the legs toward the mid-line of the body. Groin strains typically occur during sprinting, kicking a ball or changing directions quickly when running or playing football, hockey or soccer. Groin strains are categorized by the severity of the injury: grade 1 is minor, grade 2 is moderate and grade 3 is serious. Symptoms vary according to the extent of the injury.
Pain
An athlete who suffers a grade 3 groin strain experiences sudden, severe pain during exercise, according to SportsInjuryClinic. The pain will be sharp and sudden in a grade 2 injury, but a minor or grade 1 strain may not be noticed until the athlete rests.
Swelling
Swelling does not occur in patients with grade 1 strains. A patient with a grade 2 strain, however, may notice minor bruising or swelling several days after the injury, according to SportsInjuryClinic. In a grade 3 strain, the inner thigh will be swollen and bruised within 24 hours and there may be a lump or gap between the muscles.
Muscle Tightness or Weakness
Muscle tightness is found to some degree in all patients with groin strains. In a grade 1 groin strain, the patient's muscles will feel tight and tender to the touch, according to SportsInjuryClinic. A patient with a grade 2 strain will feel tightness the day after the injury, as well as weakness and pain when squeezing her legs together and discomfort when stretching the muscle. A grade 3 strain causes pain when stretching and the patient will be unable to squeeze her legs together.
Limited Mobility
Groin strains cause limitations in movement in all patients, though the degree will vary. A patient with a grade 1 groin strain will be able to walk normally but will have discomfort when running or changing direction. A grade 2 strain may affect walking and will cause pain when the patient runs, according to SportInjuryClinic. A patient with a grade 3 strain will have difficulty moving the leg on the affected side and needs immediate medical care, according to the Mayo Clinic. These patients will need crutches and extensive rehabilitation to regain function, according to SportsInjuryClinic.
