A groin strain is an injury to the inner thigh muscles that attach to the pelvis, caused by sudden lateral movements. Symptoms range from mild discomfort to severe pain, and treatment includes rest, ice, compression, elevation, and anti-inflammatories. It should not be confused with an inguinal hernia.
A groin strain is an injury to the groin region in which one or more muscles of the adductor group in the inner thigh is pulled away from the tendon that attaches it to the pelvis. More severe strains may be accompanied by partial or complete ruptures in which the muscle separates from the tendon or the tendon separates from the bone. A groin strain should not be confused with an inguinal hernia, in which the lining of the abdominal cavity, or peritoneum, pushes through a weak point in the abdominal muscle wall above it, forming a bulge along or near the inguinal crease, the line oblique denoting where the leg meets the torso.
Commonly referred to as a groin strain, a groin strain involves one or more of the five muscles in the adductor group: the pectineus, adductor magnus, adductor brevis, adductor longus, and gracilis. All five originate on the pubic bone at the bottom of the pelvis and run down the inner thigh to attach to the femur or thighbone, except for the gracilis, which runs through the knee joint and attaches to the top of the tibia in the lower leg. These muscles are responsible for pulling the leg inward towards the midline of the body from a flat position, as in skipping the feet together during a jump.
A groin strain occurs where these muscles attach, via tendons, to the pubic bone. This injury results from a sudden abduction of the leg, whether it’s a sudden hop of the feet, a sharp step to the side, or lifting the leg to the side too forcefully, causing excessive strain on the attacking muscles and tendons. It is therefore common among hockey, soccer and football players and martial artists, who are required to perform explosive lateral movements of the lower body. Examples of movements that can cause a groin strain are rapid changes of direction, as in kicking or kicking, sharp lateral accelerations, as in ice skating, or, in the case of martial arts, a quick side kick. The risk of suffering this injury increases with inexperienced or deconditioned athletes.
Symptoms of a groin strain can range from mild discomfort in the groin to severe pain, bruising, swelling, and difficulty moving the area. Recommended treatment typically includes rest, ice, compression and elevation (RICE) immediately after the injury. Continued treatment may include over-the-counter anti-inflammatories, such as ibuprofen, rest, and light stretching, with a gradual return to exercise.
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