A groin injury usually results from a pull or strain of your hip flexor, inner thigh or gracilis muscles. Overstretching and explosive starts such as in sprinting increase your risk of a groin pull. Losing your footing is another common cause of groin muscle strains. The affected area of your groin will be warm, tender and painful to the touch, according to the book "Examination of Musculoskeletal Injuries." Immediate treatment can speed up full recovery.
Anti-Inflammatory Medicine and Ice
Anti-inflammatory medicine such as ibuprofen and an ice pack serve to reduce groin muscle pain, swelling and inflammation. This also reduces injury to the surrounding healthy tissues. Apply ice to the affected area of your groin for 15 to 20 minutes, three times a day for 3 days.
Electrical Stimulation
Electrical stimulation can be used toward the end of the first week following a groin injury. This technique enhances the building of protein or protein synthesis, promoting healing. Electrical stimulation relaxes muscles in spasm and reduces swelling by pumping fluid waste into your lymph system. This reduces pain as well, increasing the chances that you will be able to perform your therapeutic exercises.
Heat Pack and Ultrasound
Heat can be used once the inflammation in your groin has subsided. Heat from a hot pack or from an ultrasound increases circulation in your groin and encourages healing. Heat improves the exchanged of waste products and nutrients. Heat also relaxes the muscles of your groin and increases groin flexibility.
Massage
Massage techniques -- including stroking, compressing and kneading your groin muscles -- help the muscles relax. This results in the dilation of your blood vessels, improving blood and lymph flow, according to the book "Therapeutic Exercise for Musculoskeletal Injuries." The more waste fluid is removed from your injured groin through your lymph vessels, the quicker your injury will heal. This reduces pain and swelling, increasing your ability to regain the normal function of your groin muscles.
Therapeutic Stretches and Exercises
Therapeutic stretches and exercises can be incorporated once pain and swelling are significantly reduced. The stretches and exercises are started slowly, then progress in difficulty according to your response to treatment and your pain tolerance. These exercises serve to improve your groin muscle strength and range of motion to near normal levels.
References
- "Examination of Musculoskeletal Injuries"; Sandra Shultz, Ph.D., Peggy Houglum, Ph.D., and David Perrin, Ph.D.; 2005
- "Therapeutic Exercise for Musculoskeletal Injuries"; Peggy Houglum, Ph.D.; 2005
