Groin Strain

A groin strain is a tear or rupture to any one of the adductor muscles on the inside of the thigh. Symptoms include a sudden sharp pain and depending on how bad the groin strain is swelling and bruising may occur. There are five adductor muscles, the pectineus, adductor brevis and adductor longus (called short adductors which go from the pelvis to the thigh bone) and the gracilis andadductor magnus (long adductors which go from the pelvis to the knee). A rupture or tear in the muscle usually occurs when sprinting, changing direction or in rapid movements of the leg against resistance such as kicking a ball. This is especially likely if a thorough warm-up has not been undertaken first! Repetitive overuse of the groin muscles may result in adductor tendinopathy.