There are five muscles that cover the groin area. These muscles bring the leg toward the body when it has been stretched out to the side. When these muscles are torn it is classified as a pulled groin. Athletes who play hockey, soccer, or speed skate are susceptible to these types of groin injuries because they repetitively glide the hip out to the side and back.
Immediate Treatment
Stop the activity that pulled your groin. Place a bag of crushed ice over the inner thigh of the right leg to reduce the swelling and pain. Keep the ice on the injured site for 20 to 30 min. For additional help in reducing muscle spasms use an ice massage. Gently massage the injured area of the inner thigh with an ice cube for five to 15 min.
Stretching Exercise
To target the groin area during a stretching exercise, begin by standing perpendicular to a stool. Keeping your hips, pelvis and toes facing forward, raise your right leg out to the side and rest it on the stool. To increase the stretch use a taller stool or bend the knee of your left leg. Hold for 20 to 30 seconds and repeat three to five times. Light stretching will work to regain flexibility of the muscle after scar tissue has developed.
Strengthening Exercise
Active contraction of the injured muscles regains their strength. To strengthening the groin area sit in a chair with your feet flat on the floor in front of you and your knees bent at 90 degrees. Place a ball between your knees. Squeeze the ball by pressing your thighs together. Hold the squeeze for five seconds. Complete eight to 12 times, three time per day.
Protection and Prevention
It will take six to eight weeks for a right groin muscle pull to fully heal. As a means of protection during activity or prevention after the injury is healed use a right groin spica wrap. To apply this use a double-length six inch tensor bandage. Stand with the right leg forward, resting the heel on a roll of tape. Turn your toes in slightly. Start the tensor on the middle of the inner thigh and wrap it around the back of the leg and over the outer thigh back toward the groin. Pull the bandage over the back of your thigh, across the lower stomach and around the lower back toward the groin again. Repeat this pattern until the tensor is finished and secure the end with tape.
References
- "Trail Guide to the Body"; Andrew Biel; 2005
- "Rehabilitation Techniques for Sports Medicine and Athletic Training"; William E. Prentice; 2004
- "Therapeutic Modalities"; Chad Starkey, Ph.D.; 2004
- "Athletic Training Student Primer"; Andrew P. Winterstein; 2009
