Groin Pull

A groin pull, also known as a pulled groin or pulled groin muscle, is an injury that's well known to most athletes - especially sprinters.

Pain from a pulled groin is felt on the upper inside of the thigh. It's usually results from stretching, straining, or overuse of the adductor muscles. 

The adductor muscles, or simply "the adductors," are similar to fans in shape. They connect the pelvis to the thigh bone, and when they contract, they pull the legs together. In addition, they function to stabilize the hip joint.

When the adductors are stretched beyond their limit, small tears occur in the muscle tissue, causing in pain and sometimes swelling in the groin area.

If the tearing is severe, the individual will feel acute, sharp pain. Swelling and bruising is likely to follow. The area will be sensitive to the touch, and will increase with movement, especially stretching.

Groin pain from a groin pull usually occurs when you're running or sprinting. You may try to change directions or pivot too quickly. Sprinters sometimes experience a groin pull as they stretch out for the finish line. The injury is also common to baseball players who stretch their adductors as they "leap" toward first base on a close play. Sports like tennis, where a lot of quick starts and stops are required, also cause a lot of groin pulls.

Treatment and relief of groin pull pain

Doctors, physical therapists and athletic trainers agree that rest is the best treatment. Ice packs help relieve swelling. Compression and elevation also help.

Your doctor may also recommend anti-inflammatory medications to bring down the swelling and relieve some of the pain.

Time is your best friend when you have a pulled groin muscle. Going back to what you were doing - and what caused the groin pull in the first place - is an invitation for re-injury. It usually takes between one and two weeks before you can return to playing sports or any other physical activity that involves running or jumping. Even after the swelling has gone down, take it easy. Ease back in with gentle groin stretching and progress to a strengthening program of low-intensity exercises.

You can probably start running again during recovery, but again, don't push it. No sprinting or uphill work. Monitor yourself closely. Keep in mind that sometimes you'll feel relatively comfortable while you're exercising, but pain could resume after you're done.

Full recovery from a groin pull may take as much as three weeks, depending on severity.

Preventing a pulled groin muscle

As with any physical activity you undertake, it's important to warm up. Stretching exercise that involve the adductors are especially helpful.

Exercises that strengthen the adductors will make groin pain from pulls and strains less likely. 

Groin pull vs. sports hernia

Occasionally, you'll think you've pulled a groin muscle but you will have actually suffered a sports hernia.

Groin pulls often happen suddenly, and the pain is instantaneous. A sports hernia, on the other hand, often starts with a dull ache that intensifies with exercise.

A sports hernia is caused by weakened muscles or tendons in the lower abdominal wall. It happens in the same area as an inguinal hernia, but there's a difference.

When you have an inguinal hernia, the abdominal walls weaken so much that soft tissue - often a part of the intestine - protrudes through a weak point or tear in your lower abdominal wall.

With a sports hernia, the abdominal walls weaken, but nothing protrudes through them. The groin pain that results feels like a groin pull, but it really isn't.

Depending on severity, a pulled groin will not always require medical attention. However, if you think you may have a hernia, it's best to get see a doctor.