A groin strain is a partial tear of the small fibers of the adductor muscles. The adductors are a group of three muscles located on the inner side of the thigh. They start in the groin area and run down the inner thigh to attach to the inner side of the knee.
A groin strain can be caused by:
These factors increase your chance of developing a groin strain. Tell your doctor if you have any of these risk factors:
Symptoms include:
The doctor will ask about your symptoms, medical history, physical activity, and the injury. Your thigh will be examined for:
Muscle strains are graded according to their severity:
For severe groin strains, you may have an MRI scan . If you're an athlete, your doctor may have this test done to help determine how long your recovery will be.
Treatment depends on how severe the strain is. It usually includes:
Check with your doctor before returning to activity.
RESOURCES:
American Academy of Family Physicians
http://www.aafp.org/
American Council on Exercise
http://www.acefitness.org/
References:
The American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine website. Available at: http://www.sportsmed.org/ . Accessed June 30, 2008.
Muscle strains in the thigh. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons website. Available at: http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00366 . Update August 2007. Accessed June 30, 2008.
O'Kane JW. Anterior hip pain. Am Fam Physician . 1999;60:1687-1696.
Renstroöm P, IOC Medical Commission, International Federation of Sports Medicine. Sports Injuries: Basic Principles of Prevention and Care . Boston, MA: Blackwell Scientific Publications; 1993.
Last reviewed November 2008 by John C. Keel, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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