What Is A Groin Strain

Groin strain is an injury that causes uneasiness and stress in a muscle. The injury can occur to both men and women. However, groin strain is often experienced by sportsmen, as they indulge in difficult and stressful workouts and training activities. When the adductor muscle in the upper, inner thigh experiences too much pressure or gets torn, groin strain is caused. Groin strain can also result from a single incident of stretching the muscles beyond their comfortable range of motion. People with a mild strain experience soreness, inflammation and swelling, while those with more severe injuries may suffer intense pain, muscle stiffness and an inability to move around. To get detailed information about the causes, symptoms and treatments of groin strain, read through the following lines.

Causes, Symptoms And Treatment Of Groin Strain

Causes Of Groin Strain

Excess of pressure on any particular muscle can lead to groin strain. Strenuous workouts can lead to strain in the adductor, and if the recovery period between workouts does not allow adequate restoration, then the adductor muscles and sinews can become more irritated and strained.
Poor or wrong mechanism, while lifting heavy weights or objects, can lead to groin strain conditions. While you lift up a heavy weight, there is a tendency for the thigh to undergo abduction that can excessively strain adductors.
The adductor muscles need to be warmed up and loosened, prior to any strenuous activity. If the muscles are not free and if the warm-up fails to prepare the nervous system to control the adductors in an optimal way, then sudden movements can lead to tearing of the adductor muscles.
Some sort of a forceful collision with an external body, such as the head of a rugby player or a soccer goal post can cause groin strain.
Sudden movements like changing directions powerfully, leaping to catch a ball or hitting the ground after a jump can subject the adductors to greater-than-normal force loads which can cause damage of the muscle.

Symptoms Of Groin Strain

Grade 1

The first stage of symptoms of a groin injury will include mild discomfort faced by the person. This discomfort in the muscle will not hamper any day to day activity though; neither will be there any disability.

Grade 2

In case groin strain remains untreated after the first grade symptoms, then it may lead to moderate discomfort, limiting a person’s ability to perform activities like running and jumping. A moderate swelling and bruising can be the symptoms of the second grade level.

Grade 3

The third grade symptoms might include severe injury, making it difficult for the person to even walk. Patients of groin strain often complain of muscle spasm, swelling and significant bruising.

Treatment Of Groin Strain

Use ice to comfort the injured area within 48 hrs, and after any strenuous activity. Ice helps calm the inflammatory response and stimulates blood flow to the injured area, thereby helping in faster recovery.
It is very important to rest your muscle after the injury, to allow proper healing and restoration. Let your injury heal and then perform any activity that involves much effort. The level of activity can be decided, depending upon the pain.
It is better to warm up and loosen your injured muscle, before performing any kind of activity. This would ensure flexibility and elasticity of the muscles.
Stretching the injured area gently will be helpful to ease the muscle. However, make sure you do not stretch your muscle excessively, as it can slow down the healing process.

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