Inguinal pain is caused by an injury or rupture in any of the adductor muscles which are located on the inside of the thigh. Sudden movements such as hitting, twisting to change direction during running or jumping usually cause a stretch or rupture of muscle fibers in the groin area, athletes being most at risk for this type of injury.

The adductor muscles, also called the inguinal muscles, are a group of three thin muscles located on the inside of the thigh. Their action is adduction, more precisely to pull the lower limb inwards (this type of movement is often used in riding or when hitting a ball with the side of the foot).

Also, the adductor muscles contribute to the balancing of the body on uneven surfaces and to the stabilization of the trunk during its lateral movement.

Most commonly inguinal pain is directly associated with a stretch or rupture of the adductor muscle fibers.

The ruptures of the adductor muscle fibers occur more often in people who practice sports such as football, baseball, karate, tennis and running (usually sprinting), as a result of a sudden contraction of the adductor muscles when they are in a stretched position. Thus, if the force passing through these muscles is too high, a stretching or rupture of the muscle fibers may occur.

Although sport is the most common cause, an inguinal injury can also occur when lifting very heavy objects.

It is important to differentiate between muscle sprawls/ruptures and inguinal hernia because both diseases manifest with pain and discomfort felt in the groin area.

A hernia occurs when an organ pushes through a weak point into the muscle or tissue around it, near the groin area. Inguinal hernia can be confused with an inguinal rupture and vice versa. Inguinal hernia, which manifests itself with several bumps in the groin area, can cause serious complications and is only treated surgically.

First of all, with sudden, sharp discomfort and pain felt in the upper part of the lower limb or in the groin area. Inguinal discomfort is described by patients as a pulling sensation of that muscle. Depending on the severity of the lesion, walking may be affected and bruising and swelling (local swelling) may also occur.

The recovery time varies significantly depending on the place and severity of the lesion and can last up to 4-12 weeks.

If the tendon of the adductor muscle is affected, the recovery can be significantly slower and longer, about 12-16 weeks (generally the recovery time of a broken tendon can be double the recovery of a broken muscle).

As therapeutic options we have:

Avoid all movements that cause or accentuate the pain.
Sometimes you can opt for walking with crutches, to avoid the load of the affected lower limb (avoid leaving the body weight on it).

Ice applied topically in the groin area or in the place of maximum pain, in sessions of 10-15 minutes, 3-5 times a day, helps reduce pain and inflammation. To protect the skin, the ice will be wrapped in a thin towel. It can also be done with ice massage and an anti-inflammatory gel.

To facilitate circulation and reduce swelling (swelling), the affected lower limb can be positioned on a support or pillow, preferably above the level of the heart.

Manual therapy, such as deep soft tissue massage, physiotherapy (ultrasound) and physical therapy (physical exercise) are extremely useful both for accelerating healing and for reducing pain.
The recovery program includes stretching exercises to increase the flexibility of the adductor muscles, as well as strength exercises, for toning (strengthening) this muscle group.

➢ The resumption of activities is done gradually to allow the muscles to fully heal and to prevent relapses
➢ Regular practice of physical exercise can prevent injuries to this muscle group. Proper attention will be paid to both warm-up and stretching exercises