Groin strain could be defined as a sports injury that affects the adductor muscles or muscles present in the inner thigh. Sudden movements such as twisting, kicking, jumping, and changing direction while running generally trigger a severe groin strain. The following write-up specifies symptoms, risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment. Please check it out now.
Symptoms
A renowned sports medicine doctor said
that symptoms of groin strains range from moderate to severe based on the
extent of the injury. They include:
·
Pain that starts in the inner thigh and then spread
down to the knee and up to hip
·
Alleviates strength in upper leg
·
Bruising
·
Inflammation
·
Difficulty running or walking
·
A pop sound when the injury occurs
Risk
Factors
The most
crucial risk factor for groin strains is indulging in a physical activity that
involves jumping, kicking, and turning abruptly. Needing to change directions
often is also considered a risk.
The
athletes who are most likely to get groin strains are ice hockey and soccer
players. However, you are at risk if you play football, basketball, rugby,
tennis, and do martial arts and skating. Athletes who do not train during
offseason lose muscle flexibility and strength at a faster pace. This puts them
at a huge risk.
Diagnosis
Your doctor
will first ask you how the injury happened and find out if the circumstances
indicate groin strain. Next, the doctor will perform a comprehensive physical
examination. This involves stretching the adductor muscles and testing the
motion range. Any pain you feel will help your doctor identify where the injury
is exactly located.
Could the
injury be something else?
Groin
strains are confused with several other issues. You may suffer from similar
symptoms if you have:
·
Stress fracture - a hairline breakage in the pubic
bone
·
Bursitis - swelling of the fluid inside the hip joints
·
Hip sprain - swelling of the muscles or tendons of the
hip
Your doctor
starts with X-ray and then follows up with MRI scan to rule out other injuries
and authorize the diagnosis.
Treatment
Your chief
objective will be to reduce the inflammation and pain as much as possible. For
the first few days, rest as much as possible, apply ice cubes, apply compression,
keep the leg in an elevated position, and take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs.
Depending
on the severity of the injury, you may have to opt for additional treatments
such as massage therapy, physiotherapy, electrotherapy, and heat therapy. They
speed up healing.
According
to the best sports
medicine doctor, the only viable way to prevent groin strains is not using
the adductor muscles without preparation and proper training. If you play
sports or hit the gym regularly, please strengthen and stretch those muscles.
Also, continue training the entire year.
The number
of days you take to recover from a groin strain depends on how fit you were
before the injury. There is no concrete time frame as it is different for each
individual. That being said, be ready to rest for a couple of weeks, and then
you can return to your daily activities in a hassle-free manner.
