Symptoms And Treatment For An Adductor Injury
An adductor injury, commonly referred to as a groin injury, is a rupture or a tear to one of the adductor muscles. This commonly occurs when the inner thigh is stretched far beyond what it is meant to, resulting in very small tears that can cause swelling and intense pain. These types of injuries are most commonly associated with runners or other athletes.
The adductor muscles are characterized by their fan-like pattern that they form in the upper thigh. Their purpose is to stabilize the hip joint and assist in pulling the thighs together when they contract. During normal walking, they pull the lower limb towards the center of your body to help maintain balance.
Grade Levels
An adductor injury can be classified under three different grade levels, depending on how severe the tear is. Grade 1 is considered only a minor tear with 10 percent or less of fibers that are damaged. Grade 2 is moderate tear and really can have from 10 to 90 percent torn fibers present. These are often broken down to 2- or 2+ to help be more specific of the level of injury. Grade 3 is the most serious which is either a partial or a full rupture.
Grade One Symptoms
- Discomfort or minor pain in the inner thigh or groin that typically is not felt until after you are done exercising.
- You groin muscles generally will feel very tight, even if you try to stretch them out.
- The area may be tender to physically touch.
- You can walk normally but there is pain present to attempt to run or change directions in movement.
Grade Two Symptoms
- While exercising you will feel a sudden, sharp pain.
- Your groin will be very tight the next day after the injury has occurred.
- Swelling or bruising may become present several days after the injury.
- You may experience weakness or pain when trying to pull your legs together.
- Discomfort is felt when you attempt to squeeze your legs together.
- Walking may hurt and require a limp to compensate for the pain.
Grade Three Symptoms
- Severe pain is felt immediately.
- You will not be able to squeeze your legs together.
- Within 24 hours of the injury, bruising and swelling will be present.
- You may be able to physically feel an actual gap or a lump in the muscle.
Treatment
An adductor injury is one of those misfortune occurrences that a doctor's visit can typically not do a lot for. The R.I.C.E treatment method should be used immediately, standing for rest, ice, compression and elevation. Avoid doing anything that will aggravate the condition and you should only return to exercise when it is healed and at a very slow pace.
Once you do return to being active, the area where you had the adductor injury should continue to be iced for at least a week to reduce inflammation and pain. Pay close attention to increased tenderness or signs of pain as this is not an injury that you should attempt to work through. If pain increases, discontinue exercise again and let the injury rest for a longer period of time.
For a serious adductor injury, you may want to see a sports injury specialist. You may need to have an ultrasound taken and tape applied to the area to alleviate the pressure. Sports massage techniques are typically recommended and if it is a complete tear, surgery may be required.
The best way to treat an adductor injury is to prevent it with a proper amount of time allocated to a warm up that includes a great deal of stretching before you engage in exercise every single time.