Sports Medicine
Medicine > Treatment > Groin Strain
Groin Strain
A common sporting injury is a groin strain. A groin strain is a lay term for tearing of one of the adductor muscles which act to pull the legs together. These muscle play a part when horse riding and during sports such as football, sprinting and hurdling. A tear or rupture of an adductor muscle often occurs during the action of sprinting or twisting to kick a ball. You may not feel any pain until the next day. You may also notice a sharp pain in the groin, the inability squeeze the legs together or lift them up in front, or swelling, bruising or a lump in the area.
The degree of injury is often divided into the following three categories.
First Degree
With a first degree strain you will feel mild discomfort and a little bit of swelling.
Second Degree
A second degree strain involves more pain and swelling
Third Degree
A third degree tear is painful and there will be lots of swelling. You will be unable to run or maybe even walk.
Treatment
The treatment of choice for all muscle strains should be RICE (see page on RICE). To take the weight off the affected area you may need to use crutches, have adequate rest ands see a doctor or physiotherapist.
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