How to diagnose a groin strain

A strain is a type of injury to the human body. It may occur on the bones, muscles, or other parts of the body. A strain will have some impact on our lives. Strains in different parts of the body will have different degrees of impact. We may also suffer from a groin strain, but many people do not know how to judge it, or the judgment is inaccurate. So how do you judge a groin strain?

This needs to be judged in combination with exercise and symptoms, and the method of exclusion is needed when necessary. When there is pain but it is not clear whether there is a strain, an X-ray can be taken to rule out bone injury. The presence of a strain can be judged by combining it with strenuous exercise and functional disorders such as pain that affects walking.

A groin strain (also called a cyclist's strain) is an overstretch or tear of the adductor muscles or their tendons on the inner thigh. In football, hockey, or other sports that require quick changes of direction, the incidence of such injuries is high, ranging from minor muscle strains to severe muscle fiber tears. Strains can be divided into grades I to III, with grade III being the most severe.

Anatomical and physiological mechanisms: The main muscle groups in the groin area that adduct the hip joint are the pectineus, adductor brevis, adductor longus, gracilis and adductor magnus, which function to adduct the thigh or tilt the pelvis forward. Due to the location and function of these muscles, athletes are susceptible to groin strains during athletic activities that involve vigorous adduction or abduction of the thigh. The injury often occurs at the muscle-tendon attachment point about 5 cm from the pubic bone.

Cause of injury: Violent stretching or contraction of the hip adductor muscles.

Signs and symptoms: Grade I: Slight pain and stiffness in the adductor muscles, with little effect on movement.

Grade II: There is some pain, swelling, or tenderness. The range of motion is limited, and walking and jumping are painful.

Grade III: Very painful, with severe swelling, the pain worsens when bearing weight, and the pain is often felt while resting and sleeping at night.

Complications of untreated injuries: If not treated promptly, it can lead to chronic pain and gait disturbances, as well as damage to other muscles. A small muscle tear may lead to a severe tear if not treated promptly.

Rehabilitation: If the strain is minor, initial treatment should gradually move to stretching and strengthening exercises.