A common injury, groin pulls affect athletes across a wide range of sports, but they can be particularly troubling to football players who require short, explosive moments to shed tacklers, take on blockers and power through congested lines. Football's need for sharp changes in direction, whether when running the ball or when chasing down ball-carriers, can often stretch groin muscles beyond their normal limits. Football players also tend to be large, heavily muscled athletes, increasing the chances of strains and pulls.
Identification
Groin pulls occur in the adductor muscles of the inner thighs. These muscles -- the adductor longus, the adductor brevis, the adductor magnus, the gracilis, and the pectineus -- control proper leg movement, pulling the thighs together and ensuring the legs don't flail too wide from the body's center. The muscles work together to stabilize the hips and legs during the running, jumping and diving prevalent in football.
Symptoms
A groin pull triggers sharp, sudden pain in the muscles of the inner thighs, often causing the football player to slow down or stop running completely. Moving the hips or lifting the legs will activate the pain. Within 24 hours, swelling and inflammation may be present in the groin area, with the muscles tender to the touch. Bruising may emerge in subsequent days. Until the muscles heal, players will be unable to run or may struggle to even walk.
Causes
Aside from initiating explosive movements or quick changes in direction, football players may also suffer groin injuries from simply overusing the muscles, from failing to properly warm-up prior to exercise or from using improper technique when blocking and tackling. Even a forceful blow to the inside of the leg can drive the thigh outward and cause a groin injury.
Treatment
Treatment for a groin pull begins with halting all sporting activity and resting the injured muscles for as long as the severe-to-moderate pain persists. Try to keep the leg elevated and employ some form of compression, such as a bandage wrap, to support the muscle. Ice the injury frequently to further calm swelling and inflammation. Anti-inflammatory medications may be prescribed in severe cases.
Prevention
To prevent groin pulls, football players should follow a regular stretching routine before practice, games and all strenuous exercise. One good groin stretch involves sitting on the floor with your knees bent, the soles of your feet pressed together and your back straight. Pull your feet towards you as close as possible and then use your hands to press down your knees. Hold the stretch for at least 10 seconds. Perform the stretch 10 times before and after exercising to reduce the risk of groin pulls.
