A groin strain -- a bruising, stretching or tearing of the muscle fibers running from the front of your hip bone to the inside of your thigh -- is an uncomfortable but common runner's complaint. Minor groin strains can be treated with self-care, but the Mayo Clinic warns that you should see your doctor if you can't move your leg or walk more than a few steps without significant pain. Numbness, reddened areas or red streaks radiating from the injury site also necessitate a doctor's visit.
Symptoms
A groin strain -- also called a groin pull -- affects the hip adductor muscles, which control the movement of your leg away from the center of your body and stabilize your hip during running. You may experience a sudden sharp pain at the time of injury, usually severe enough to force you to stop running; you still may be able to walk. Tenderness, swelling, inflammation and discoloration set in over the next 24 hours. A first-degree groin strain involves some stretching of muscle or tendon fibers and may cause symptoms for a week. A second-degree strain usually involves small muscle tears as well and can cause symptoms for two to three weeks. With the more serious third-degree groin strain, muscle fibers are ruptured and tendons may be severely stretched. This requires a doctor's care. Your doctor can diagnose groin strains by palpation and physical examination. X-rays, CAT scans or MRIs may also be used.
Causes
Groin strain can occur due to overtraining, insufficient recovery time and inadequate warm-up and cool-down. You can also pull your groin by slipping or falling. Runners Rescue says poor foot placement while running, either by overpronation, which is rolling your foot too much to the inside, or oversupination, rolling to the outside, can cause a foot imbalance, placing additional strain on the adductor muscles. Sudden dynamic and explosive movements, such as changing direction suddenly or abruptly initiating a sprint, can increase your risk.
Treatment
To treat a groin pull, you must avoid running for at least a week, and continue to avoid it as long as any pain persists. According to the Mayo Clinic, minor groin strains can be treated using the RICE method -- rest from the activity that caused the injury, apply ice every 20 minutes every few hours for the first few days after the strain, wear an elastic compression bandage and elevate the leg above heart level, if possible. You can treat pain and swelling with over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications, as long as you have no conditions that preclude their use. Don't return to strenuous training until you can run without pain.
Prevention
Having a groin pull makes you more susceptible to experiencing another one. You should be alert for pain during sudden changes of direction and rapid starts and stops. Allowing sufficient rest and recovery time, getting adequate sleep, improving your nutrition and performing 10 minutes of easy warm-up before running can help prevent further injury. Runners Rescue endorses stretching and strengthening exercises, such as the inside leg raise, to reduce risk of groin strains. Lying on the uninjured side, raise the affected leg slowly from the floor and hold it aloft for two seconds. Take four seconds to lower the leg back to the floor. Perform three sets of 10 repetitions daily. Once you have returned to your former level of activity, perform the exercise post-workout.
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