A groin pull is an injury that occurs when the muscles of the inner thigh are strained. The groin muscles have a total of six different muscles that span from the inner part of the pelvis to the inner part of the femur bone.
These muscles are very important to athletes, especially those that play sports such as soccer and football, as well as sprinters and swimmers.
When a groin muscle is strained, it means that the muscle has stretched itself too far. Less severe strains pull the muscle slightly, while more severe ones can tear the muscle fibers and in some cases, cause a complete and total tear of the muscle.
Groin pulls are usually minor tears of the muscle fibers, while most of the tissue remains intact.
It can also be very painful, but this also depends on the severity of the pull. In a minor groin pull there will be some discomfort, but a person will be able to walk and move fairly normally.
In a more serious pull, there will be swelling and bruising of the area as well. In the most sever cases, the patient will not be able to walk very well and the pain and swelling will increase, and also include muscle spasms.
Core strength exercises for these muscles and a good regiment of stretching are both needed to prevent such injuries, especially for athletes that participate in high impact sports.
Some symptoms of a severe groin pull are difficulty walking, pain while sitting or resting, pain at night when trying to sleep, and general discomfort in the area.
In the worst cases, a surgery will be needed to reattach the torn muscles.
If the symptoms are not going away or the pain is getting worse, then it is best to consult a doctor.
However in most cases, all that is needed is rest, ice, compression and elevation, the so-called R.I.C.E. technique.
It is very important to rest, especially for athletes, and the return to sports should be very well tempered and gradual.
Most over-the-counter medication will be helpful for reducing pain and inflammation that results from the injury. It is also very important to do a lot of stretching and low-intensity exercises once the inflammation goes down in order to get the muscle moving again. Such exercises will also speed up the rehabilitation process.
The best way to avoid pulling the groin muscles is to warm up properly before playing sports, stretch the groin and hips, and do a very detailed series of stretching activities for this part of the upper leg in order to get the muscles warmed up and loose before participating in a strenuous physical activity.
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