How to Fix a Pulled Groin
- Making the Strain Grade. There are different grades of muscle strains. ...
- Treating Your Strain Pain. Depending on the grade of the tear, it is likely you will have to temporarily stop exercising and straining the muscle to accommodate the healing process.
- Keeping Your Groin Safe. Incorporate a dynamic warm up prior to more intense physical activity. ...
- Rest the area and avoid activities that cause pain.
- For the first day or two, put an ice pack on the area 3–4 times a day for 15 minutes at a time. ...
- Use an elastic wrap to help support the groin and keep the swelling down.
What is the best treatment for pulled groin?
- RICE — Your first line of defense is to rest, ice, compress and elevate. This can be hard with a groin strain, so focus on the rest and ice. ...
- Avoid aggravating the injury site. ...
- If you have trouble walking, see a healthcare specialist such as an orthopedist, sports medicine doctor or a doctor of physical therapy. ...
How long to heal a groin pull?
How to Manage your groin strain
- Stop all exercise. Do not continue any form of exercise and seek the advice of your osteopath or physiotherapist. ...
- Apply RICE. RICE stands for Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation, which will relieve pain and reduce swelling. ...
- Treat quickly. ...
- See a Physiotherapist. ...
How long does a pulled groin muscle take to heal?
You should:
- Always warm up your legs and groin muscles before physical activity. ...
- Wear shoes with good support that fit well.
- Always increase the intensity of your physical activity slowly -- no more than a 10% increase a week.
- Stop exercising if you feel pain or tightness in your groin or the inside of your thigh.
What can I do to take away pulled groin pain?
Treatment
- Lifestyle Treatment Options. Some causes of groin pain require simple strategies that you can often do at home. ...
- Medications. ...
- Physical Therapy. ...
- Surgery. ...
How long does it take for a groin injury to heal?
If you have a bad strain, you may walk with a limp while it heals. Rest and other home care can help the muscle heal. Healing can take up to 3 weeks or more. Your doctor may want to see you again in 2 to 3 weeks.
Is walking good for a pulled groin muscle?
The First 24 to 48 Hours Rest the area by avoiding walking or any activity that causes pain. Crutches may be recommended to reduce further strain on the muscles when walking. Apply ice packs to the area for 15 to 20 minutes every 2 hours. Compress the area with an elastic bandage wrap.
What is the fastest way to heal a pulled groin?
To speed the healing, you can:Ice the inside of your thigh to reduce pain and swelling. Experts recommend doing it for 20 to 30 minutes every 3 to 4 hours for 2 to 3 days, or until the pain is gone.Compress your thigh using an elastic bandage or tape.Take anti-inflammatory painkillers.
How do you know if you pulled your groin?
The main symptoms of groin strain are pain and tenderness in the area. Other symptoms include: bruising or swelling of the inner thigh. pain when a person raises their knee.
How do I know if my groin pain is serious?
Seek immediate medical attention if you have:Groin pain associated with back, abdomen or chest pain.Sudden, severe testicle pain.Testicle pain and swelling accompanied by nausea, vomiting, fever, chills or blood in the urine.
Should I stretch pulled groin?
You can begin stretching your groin muscles right away. Stretch gently and avoid any pain. If you have pain while doing these exercises, you should not do them. Standing groin stretch: Bend down and slide your injured leg out to your side.
What is the best exercise for a groin strain?
1. Hip adductor stretchLie on your back with bent knees.Press your feet into the floor.Allow your knees to drop open to the sides.Press the soles of your feet together.Hold this position for up to 30 seconds.Return your knees to the starting position.Repeat 3 times.
Should you massage a pulled groin muscle?
After the acute stage of injury your doctor may recommend to start gently stretching the area (see some examples of stretches below), to apply heat to relax the tight muscles and may also recommend massage.
What hurts when you pull your groin?
Signs and symptoms of a groin strain include pain, swelling, and loss of mobility with the adductor muscles, nearby tendons, or close to the pubic bone. Slight bruising, muscle weakness and spasms, and difficulty walking are also possible.
What does a torn groin muscle feel like?
Tenderness and pain on the inside of the thigh and groin area. Pain when bringing your legs together. Pain when raising your knee. A snapping or popping feeling at the time of injury that results in severe pain.
Where is groin pain located?
Definition. Groin pain refers to discomfort in the area where the abdomen ends and the legs begin.
What is the best exercise for a groin strain?
Squatting Groin Stretch Squat down slowly until your knees are directly over your ankles and bend to 90 degrees. Place your hands on top of your inner thighs and slowly push outward to open your hips. You will feel a stretch in the groin muscles in both legs. Hold for 20 to 30 seconds, relax and repeat three times.
Should I exercise with groin pain?
What can you do to help your groin pain? In the first 48 hours it may be useful to: Rest: Avoid aggravating activities and overstretching your muscles. Usually after 48 hours you can gently start completing some range of movement exercises and gentle strengthening as your pain allows.
How should I sleep with a pulled groin muscle?
If you sleep on your side, avoid lying on the painful leg. Place a pillow between your legs to help support the injured area.
Why do I get groin pain when I walk?
Groin pain when walking is often caused by strained muscles, ligaments, or tendons in your lower abdominal area. Cartilage tears, hip impingement, an inguinal hernia, and osteoarthritis are also common culprits. If your groin pain is caused by muscle strain, rest and ice therapy can help the injury to heal.
What is a pulled groin?
A pulled groin is usually a clear diagnosis. Most athletes know what the injury is before they seek medical attention. However, other conditions can mimic the symptoms of a groin strain. 1 One condition that was previously not well-recognized is called a sports hernia .
What to do for groin strain?
These include rest, stretching, and some oral medications. Rarely is more invasive treatment necessary. Groin strain injuries can be a frustration for athletes and weekend warriors alike. The desire to return to full activity often conflicts with the duration of recovery.
How painful is a groin pull?
Groin Strain Symptoms. An acute groin pull can be quite painful, depending on how severe the injury is. Groin pulls are usually graded as follows: Grade I groin strain : Mild discomfort, often no disability. Usually does not limit activity.
What is a groin pull?
Stretches to Prevent Injury. A groin pull is an injury to the muscles (a muscle strain ) 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 ...
What muscles pull the legs together?
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. When a muscle is strained, the muscle is stretched too far. Less severe strains pull the muscle beyond their normal excursion.
How to prevent groin strain injury?
Athletes, especially hockey and soccer players, should incorporate adductor strengthening, pelvic stabilization, and core strengthening exercises into their workouts to prevent injury.
Why do athletes pull their groins?
Because of this, proper conditioning is of utmost importance to prevent groin strain injury .
How to prevent groin strain?
The best way to prevent groin strain is to avoid using the adductor muscle without proper training and preparation. Especially if you play a sport that’s likely to cause groin strain, regularly stretch and strengthen your adductor muscles.
How long does it take to recover from a groin strain?
Depending on the grade of your strain, here’s estimated recovery times: Grade 1: two to three weeks. Grade 2: two to three months. Grade 3: four months or more.
What is a groin strain?
Overview. A groin strain is an injury or tear to any of the adductor muscles of the thigh. These are the muscles on the inner side of the thigh. Sudden movements usually trigger an acute groin strain, such as kicking, twisting to change direction while running, or jumping. Athletes are most at risk for this injury.
What is grade 1 groin strain?
A grade 1 groin strain occurs when the muscle is overstretched or torn, damaging up to 5 percent of the muscle fibers. You may be able to walk without pain, but running, jumping, kicking, or stretching may be painful.
How to heal adductor muscle?
As your adductor muscle is recovering, avoid activities that involve pain. Resume activities gradually. This will enable your muscle to heal fully and prevent you from developing a recurrent groin strain injury. The length of time you need to recover will also depend on your level of fitness before the injury.
How to tell if groin is strained?
They can include: pain (usually felt in the inner thigh, but located anywhere from the hip to the knee) decreased strength in the upper leg. swelling.
What is the risk factor for groin strain?
The primary risk factor for groin strain is playing a sport that involves kicking, turning suddenly while running, and jumping. Needing to change direction frequently is also a risk factor.
How to treat a groin injury?
To treat a groin injury, apply ice to the area as soon as possible to reduce the swelling. Continue to apply ice for 15 minute intervals every 2 hours for the first 48 hours after the injury. Additionally, take painkillers, like ibuprofen or aspirin, to manage the pain.
How to stretch your groin?
Perform a simple stretch that targets the groin area before and after you work out or participate in sports. Sit on the floor with your back gently against the wall. Place the bottoms of your feet together and pull your feet in toward your groin. Gently and slowly move your knees toward the floor.
What causes pain in the buttocks and lower abdomen?
A sports hernia is indicated by pain in the lower abdomen and groin, pain when coughing or sneezing, and continuing groin pain that flares up when you are active. Stress fractures in your femur or pubic bone may cause pain in the groin and spread to your buttocks.
What causes pain in the inner thigh?
The inner thigh pain caused by a groin injury can range from mild to severe, and can happen to anyone at any age. The pain results from a tear or rupture of any one of five muscles that run along the inner thigh, attaching to the pelvic bone at the upper end, and just above the knee area at the other.
What does it feel like to have a groin strain?
The symptoms commonly seen with a groin strain or injury include feelings of tightness or cramping, sudden or sharp pain, and pain when the muscle is either contracted or stretched. Severe injuries can include extreme pain even when just walking.
How long does it take to recover from a groin injury?
More severe injuries require at least six to eight weeks or even longer for adequate recovery. Take at least five to seven days off from physical activity to allow your injury ...
What is a grade 1 groin injury?
Groin injuries are graded based on the severity of the injury. Grade 1 injuries are milder and are caused by overstretching one or more of the five muscles, with micro-tearing of muscle fibers within the injury. Grade 2 injuries are the most common type, and involve partial tearing of muscle tissue.
What is the treatment for pulled groin muscle?
Like with most other types of soft tissue injuries, pulled groin muscle treatment can include RICE therapy 5 : Rest. Ice. Compression. Elevation. You can administer this treatment with traditional ice packs and compression bandages, or increase the effectiveness of therapeutic cold and compression with a cold therapy system.
How to relieve groin pain after pulling?
Massage is another popular method for reducing tension in the groin muscles while recovering from a pull or tear. This type of treatment is appropriate after the area is no longer tender to the touch, as otherwise it might be too painful and uncomfortable. 7.
Why does my groin tear?
This is because groin muscles can tear or stretch when pivoting to avoid a tackle, changing directions quickly to catch a ball, or stretching beyond the natural limits of the muscles. Any type of sudden movement in the groin area can potentially cause a strain or pull, especially when the muscles are not properly warmed up. 2.
How do you know if you pulled your groin?
When you pull a groin, you can expect to experience some or all of the following symptoms 1: Pain when you lift your knee. Pain when you use the adductor muscles, which bring your legs together. Tenderness and discomfort in the inside of the thigh. Swelling or discoloration in the groin area.
How to stretch your groin?
Seated short groin stretch: While seated on the floor, bend the knees, and bring the soles of the feet together in front of you. With a straight back, use your elbows to gently push your knees toward the floor until you feel a light stretch in the inner thigh, and hold the position.
What is a pulled groin?
A pulled groin—also known as a groin strain or sprain—occurs when the muscles in the inner thigh get overstretched or torn. 1 This can happen when they contract too quickly during activities such as running, jumping, or changing direction. 1 Although a pulled groin is a common injury among athletes, it can happen to anybody.
How to strengthen adductor muscles?
Use a small medicine ball placed between the knees to create resistance, and squeeze for five-second intervals. Repeat 10 times, and increase the duration and number of repetitions as strength improves. Straight-leg adductor exercise: Remain in a reclined position, and extend the legs flat on the floor.
What does it mean when your groin is pulled?
A groin pull -- or groin strain -- results from putting too much stress on muscles in your groin and thigh. If these muscles are tensed too forcefully or too suddenly, they can get over-stretched or torn. Groin pulls are common in people who play sports that require a lot of running and jumping. In particular, suddenly jumping or changing direction ...
How to stop groin pain?
Stop exercising if you feel pain or tightness in your groin or the inside of your thigh. Do regular strengthening exercises for your thigh muscles, especially if you've had a groin pull before. Groin injuries can result from added stress due to weakness elsewhere.
How long does it take for a groin pull to heal?
But there's no easy answer. Recovery time depends on how serious your groin pull is. It may take 4 to 6 weeks, but that's just a rough estimate. People heal at different rates. In the meantime, switch to a new activity that won't put too much stress on your groin muscles. For instance, runners could try swimming.
How to tell if you have a groin pull?
Here are some symptoms of a groin pull: Pain and tenderness in the groin and the inside of the thigh. Pain when you bring your legs together. Pain when you raise your knee. A popping or snapping feeling during the injury, followed by severe pain. Groin pulls are often divided into three degrees of severity:
What causes groin pulls?
Groin pulls are common in people who play sports that require a lot of running and jumping. In particular, suddenly jumping or changing direction is a likely cause. Groin pulls often appear in people who play soccer and football, and they make up about 10% of all injuries in professional hockey players.
What is the 3rd degree of groin pull?
3rd degree: Severe pain, severe loss of strength and function due to a complete tear of the muscle. To diagnose a groin pull, your doctor will give you a thorough physical exam. Tests like X-rays and MRIs (magnetic resonance imaging) may be needed to rule out other problems.
How long does it take for a swollen thigh to heal?
To speed the healing, you can: Ice the inside of your thigh to reduce pain and swelling. Experts recommend doing it for 20 to 30 minutes every 3 to 4 hours for 2 to 3 days, or until the pain is gone. Compress your thigh using an elastic bandage or tape.
What is the best treatment for a pull in the groin?
The most common form of treatment for a groin pull is women are rest and medications. Ibuprofen and Naproxen are both anti-inflammatory medicines that help with swelling and inflammation. Heat applied to the general area or a warm bath can provide temporary relief. Treatment is based on the exact cause of the pain.
How to treat groin pain in women?
Groin pain treatment in women varies depending on the diagnosis during your evaluation. Heat applied to the general area or a warm bath can provide temporary relief.
What is a groin strain?
A groin strain is when there is a tear or pull in the three muscles of the inner thigh, also called the adductor muscles. This combination of muscles runs from the groin all the way down the inner thigh and connects to the knee. A pulled groin can be caused by many different things, such as a direct blow to the groin area, ...
How do you know if you have a pull in your groin?
Symptoms of Female Groin Pulls. Symptoms can be mild to very severe in a groin pull. You will experience pain when moving, and you may experience groin pain when going to the bathroom.
Can ovarian cysts run down leg?
Ovarian cysts can cause intense pain that may seem to run down the leg and may resemble a muscle pull. X-rays, CT scans and other tests may be performed to rule out any other problems before a full diagnosis is given. Your physician will physically exam the area to locate any swelling or lumps that appear on the groin area. ...
Can cysts in the groin cause pain?
Your physician will physically exam the area to locate any swelling or lumps that appear on the groin area. Ovarian cysts can cause intense pain that may seem to run down the leg and may resemble a muscle pull.
Groin Strain Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
- Once a strain is diagnosed, you can begin treatment. Rest, stretching, and oral pain medications are the most common treatments. Surgery is not usually necessary. Groin strains can be frustrating for athletes and weekend warriors alike. You may want to return to your activities before you're fully recovered. Exactly how long it takes to recover will depend on how severe the …
Stretches to Prevent Injury
- If you have a groin strain, a stretching program will help you recover. Simple stretches can help ease the symptoms and keep new strains from occurring.
Summary
- A groin pull is an injury to the inner thigh muscles. Most of the time, these strains involve small tears to the muscle fibers. They can be treated with rest, stretching, and over-the-counter medications. Sometimes, however, more severe muscle tears can happen. In rare cases, these tears have to be repaired with surgery. If you have a severe groin ...
A Word from Verywell
- If you're not sure if you have a groin pull or your symptoms do not improve quickly, it's a good idea to see a healthcare provider. Other conditions can be confused with a groin pull, and they may need different treatments.