A groin pull is an injury to the muscles of the inner thigh. The groin muscles, called the adductor muscle group, consists of six muscles that span the distance from the inner pelvis to the inner part of the femur (thigh bone). These muscles pull the legs together, and help with other movements of the hip-joint. The adductor muscles are important to many types of athletes including sprinters, swimmers, soccer players, and football players.
A groin pull is an injury to the adductor muscles called a muscle strain. When a muscle is strained, the muscle is stretched too far. Less severe strains pull the muscle beyond their normal excursion. More severe strains tear the muscle fibers, and can even cause a complete tear of the muscle. Most commonly,
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Groin pulls are usually graded as follows:
Grade I Groin Strain: Mild discomfort, often no disability. Usually does not limit
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This is rarely needed, even in patients with Grade III groin strain injuries, as these patients can usually undergo successful non-operative treatment.
If you are unsure if you have a groin pull or the symptoms do not quickly resolve, then you should be seen by your doctor. As described above, other conditions can be confused with a groin pull, and these should be considered if your symptoms do not resolve.
Treatment of a Groin Strain
Once a strain is diagnosed, you can begin treatment for your groin pull. Most often, treatment can be accomplished with some simple steps. These include rest, stretching, and some oral medications. Rarely is more invasive treatment necessary. Doing the appropriate treatment can help to ensure healing progresses as quickly as possible. However, it is important to allow your body the time it needs to complete the healing process. Without doing so, an athlete may risk re-injury and beginning the healing process over right back at square