A groin strain happens when a muscle on the inner portion of the thigh is stretched or torn. Symptoms of a groin strain may range from very mild to severe.
Groin Strain Symptoms
When you sustain a groin strain, you will feel discomfort in your inner thigh. Additionally you may experience swelling and/or bruising in the groin area. Depending on the severity of the groin strain you may be feeling muscle spasms, weakness in the affected leg or pain with walking.
There are five muscles in the groin that may be injured. Some of the more common mechanisms of injury are overstretching the muscle, a direct hit to the groin, or too much weight for the muscles. A groin strain can happen when you begin the work out without a proper warm up or stretching.
How Groin Strains Can Occur
Some of the frequent activities that can result in a groin strain include:
- Sports that involve sprinting and sudden direction changes. Athletes participating in track and field, soccer, hockey, skiing, basketball and rugby, as well as others, can sustain this injury.
- Activities that require an extreme range of motion, including ballet, gymnastics and martial arts.
- Cold weather and starting your workout without a proper warm-up to allow the muscles to warm up and stretch can lead to sustaining a groin strain.
- Working out or continuing to play after you are tired makes the muscles more prone to injury.
Groin Strain Treatment
Most of the time the diagnosis of a groin strain is based on the history and physical examination. Your doctor may order x-rays and advanced imaging such as an MRI to rule out other causes of pain.
Rest, ice and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications are the preferred initial treatment for a groin strain. The initial goal is to decrease the swelling and inflammation and avoid activities that cause any discomfort. Your doctor may prescribe physical therapy to help with stretching and strengthening. Groin strains typically heal in about 4-12 weeks depending on the severity of the injury.
Groin Strain Recovery And Prevention
It is very important to wait to go back to your activities until cleared by your physician. Returning to athletics too soon may predispose you to sustaining a repeat groin strain. It is important to do a proper warm-up before starting to exercise and increase the duration and intensity of your routine slowly. If any exercise causes you groin pain, modify it until you are able to do it comfortably.
When To See A Pediatric Orthopedist
Groin strains are a serious matter, especially for athletes trying to get back to doing what they love. If the issue is persistent and causing your child pain, or if you’re looking for a second opinion, please book a consultation with us!
