The groin muscle belongs to a group of muscles, running through the inside of the thigh called the adductor muscles. This set of six muscles connects the inside of the pelvis to the thigh bone, or femur. When the groin muscle is strained it has most likely been overexerted and/or stretched too far. This injury can range from a slight pull to the ultimate tearing of muscle fibers. A relatively strong muscle, the groin, is rarely torn entirely but minor pulls are a common occurrence.
The groin muscle belongs to a group of muscles, running through the inside of the thigh called the adductor muscles. This set of six muscles connects the inside of the pelvis to the thigh bone, or femur. When the groin muscle is strained it has most likely been overexerted and/or stretched too far. This injury can range from a slight pull to the ultimate tearing of muscle fibers. A relatively strong muscle, the groin, is rarely torn entirely but minor pulls are a common occurrence.
Often rated by their severity a groin pull can be a very painful injury to endure. Symptoms of the injury include varying levels of discomfort in the effected area, limited hip and leg function, as well as swelling and spasming of the muscle in severe cases.
Easily identifiable independent of medical treatment, the injured may not need to seek outside attention. If constant pain, swelling, bruising and muscle spasms do occur, the strain may be more severe than you think and a trip to the trainer, or your doctor may be in your best interest. In serious cases, surgery may be conducted in order to repair the torn muscle.
The best way to treat a groin injury is rest. Activity that aggravates the muscle puts it at risk for additional injury. Pain is a good indicator of what can and can not be done during the recovery process. Other treatments to an injured groin are:
Stretching: Dependent on your level of agility, lightly stretching the muscle will be helpful to your recovery but over stretching can delay it as well;
Ice: To reduce inflammation and swelling. Immediately after the injury occurs ice should be applied to avoid these symptoms. During recovery, after mild activity, ice should be applied again. Icing aggravated muscles also sends blood to the effected area, creating an environment of healing for the effected muscle; and
Heat: Help loosen the muscle by applying a heat pack to the groin muscle area. This may be beneficial to do before stretching and any sort of activity where the muscle may be re-injured.
Still, rest is the most important part of your recovery time. You must let the muscle heal before risking an aggravation. This injury is most often seen in athletes, therefore making extended rest unrealistic. Gauge your level of pain during stretching and every day activities before testing its strength out on the field (ice, court, etc.).
Stretching before and after exercise can be vital in your overall muscle health and injury prevention. To avoid groin muscles in particular, adductor muscle stretches, hip and pelvic exercises and a strong core can all contribute to the prevention of a muscle strain.