Groin Strain

and run down the inner thigh to attach to the inner side of the knee. They include the adductor magnus, adductor longus, adductor brevis, pectineus, and gracilis. The adductors are fan-like muscles in the upper thigh that pull the legs together when they contract. They also help stabilize the hip joint.

Cause

A groin strain can be caused by:

• Stretching the adductor muscles beyond the amount of tension they can withstand
• Suddenly placing stress on the muscles when they are not ready for the stress
• Overuse of the muscle group
• A direct blow to the area

Symptoms

You will have pain or tenderness along the inner side of your thigh or in the groin area. You will have pain you bring your legs together, or perhaps when lifting your knee/leg up during running. You will have a decreased range of motion and pain with stretching and will likely have discomfort while cutting.

Examination

Based on your symptoms, the mechanism of injury, and an examination of your thigh and hip, a determination can be made on the type and severity of your injury.

Treatment

After an initial course of ice (10-15 minutes, every 3-4 hours for 24-48 hours) and rest, treatment can progress. Once the initial inflammation and pain starts to resolve, subsequent treatment with modalities, such as heat, stim, ultrasound and laser light therapy, along with light stretching and strengthening exercises can begin. It may be necessary to avoid running, jumping and kicking until the injury starts to heal. Progressive activities, like the stationary bike and elliptical machine, may be used until the athlete feels well enough to return to running activities.

Supportive wrapping and taping are often helpful once the athlete returns to play. A thorough warm-up and stretching program, along with a restoration of muscle strength are important in preventing re-injury. Click here for groin home exercises

Prevention

Calf strains are best prevented by warming up properly and doing calf-stretching exercises before your activity. This is especially important if you are doing jumping or sprinting sports.

Recovery/Rehabilitation

The goal of rehabilitation is to return you to your sport or activity as soon as is safely possible. If you return too soon you may worsen your injury. Everyone recovers from injury at a different rate. Return to your activity will be determined by how soon your calf recovers, not by how many days or weeks it has been since your injury occurred. In general, the longer you have symptoms before you start treatment, the longer it will take to get better.

You may safely return to your sport or activity when, starting from the top of the list and progressing to the end, each of the following is true:

• You have full range of motion in the injured leg compared to the uninjured leg.
• You have full strength of the injured leg compared to the uninjured leg.
• You can jog straight ahead without pain or limping
• You can sprint straight ahead w/o pain or limping
• You can do 45 degree cuts at 1/2 speed and full speed
• You can backpedal and reverse directions w/o pain at 1/2 and full speed

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