Groin Strain

Written by Dr. Jason Ngan

What is Groin Strain?

Groin strain (aka pulled groin, adductor muscle strain) occurs when one of the adductor muscles are injured from overstretching. The adductor muscle group, located at the inner thigh, include adductor longus, adductor brevis, adductor magnus, and gracillis. These muscles are responsible for adducting the thigh (bringing the thigh towards the midline of the body). The most commonly affected muscle is the adductor magnus.

What Causes Groin Strain?

Groin strains are caused by overloading or overstretching the adductor muscles.

  • Sports that require sudden movements (basketball, football, hockey, soccer)

    • (kicking, sprinting, running, skiing, skating, jumping)

  • Muscle imbalance

  • Improper warming up or stretching of the adductor muscles

What are the Signs and Symptoms?

Signs and symptoms will be local to the inner thigh up to the groin area. They include:

  • Sharp, sudden pain

  • Pain upon adduction

  • Swelling and tenderness

  • Bruising

  • Weakness

How is Groin Strain Diagnosed?

Groin strain is diagnosed with a thorough medical history, physical examination, orthopedic testing, MRI, and diagnostic ultrasound.

  • Pain, tenderness, swelling, bruising

  • Muscle weakness.

  • MRI and diagnostic ultrasound can visualize the injured muscle.

What are the Treatment Options?

Groin strains needs to be rested. There are some therapies that can speed up the recovery process. Some options we provide include:

  • Chiropractic manipulation and mobilization

  • Soft tissue therapies

  • Gua-sha

  • Cupping

  • E-stim

  • Rehabilitative exercises & stretches

Other treatments that patients may seek (not provided at Ngan Chiropractic) include acupuncture, non-inflammatory medications, and surgery if severe.

References

  1. Bisciotti GN, Auci A, Di Marzo F, Galli R, Pulici L, Carimati G, Quaglia A, Volpi P. Groin pain syndrome: an association of different pathologies and a case presentation. Muscles Ligaments Tendons J. 2015 Oct 20;5(3):214-22. doi: 10.11138/mltj/2015.5.3.214. PMID: 26605198; PMCID: PMC4617224.

  2. Hoskins, W., Pollard, H. The effect of a sports chiropractic manual therapy intervention on the prevention of back pain, hamstring and lower limb injuries in semi-elite Australian Rules footballers: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 11, 64 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2474-11-64

  3. Tyler TF, Silvers HJ, Gerhardt MB, Nicholas SJ. Groin injuries in sports medicine. Sports Health. 2010 May;2(3):231-6. doi: 10.1177/1941738110366820. PMID: 23015943; PMCID: PMC3445110.