Groin pain is serious business for athletes trying to stay in the game. Hockey and soccer players are at greatest risk for adductor muscle strain but any athlete in any sport can be affected. The adductor muscles are located along the inner thigh. Adductor strain is a major cause of groin pain in athletes. The temptation to play through the pain can lead to worse problems later. How can these injuries be prevented?
In this review article, a group of sports medicine professionals searched the available studies on the problem of groin injuries in sports. The group included physicians, physical therapists, and athletic trainers.
The focus was on the six muscles of the adductor muscle group. They made it clear right from the start that ignoring muscle strains or getting the wrong treatment can turn a minor problem into a major one. Chronic pain, loss of muscle function, and the end of a promising sports career may be the final results.
How can this be avoided? First, identify who's at risk. We know that hockey and soccer players have the highest number of groin injuries (preseason and during the season). American football players take third place. Then help these athletes get the training they need to prevent adductor (groin) injuries.
Some studies show that muscle weakness and loss of flexibility can contribute to adductor muscle injuries. When it comes to muscle weakness as a cause of groin injuries, decreased hip abduction (moving the leg away from the body) is a problem. And adductor muscle strength being weaker than the hip abductors is also linked with adductor muscle strains.
The adductor muscles move the leg toward the body. The abductor muscles do the opposite (move the leg away from the body). So, in other words, when the abductor muscles are stronger than the adductor muscles, the risk of an adductor strain goes up dramatically.
Other risk factors include a previous injury to the same area. Players who don't practice during the off-season are more likely to get injured. Level of playing experience also seems to be a risk factor. Inexperienced players or rookies are also less likely to have a groin injury.
Two major risk factors for recurrent (repeated) groin strains are incomplete rehabilitation and not enough time for complete tissue healing to take place. In either case, the player goes back to the sport too soon. The athlete should expect to be sidelined for at least eight to 12 weeks while completing a rehab program.
An incorrect rehab program can be a risk factor. So what does a good or successful treatment program look like? Well, there are two answers to this question. The first relates to a prevention program to avoid these kinds of injuries.
Adductor strains can be prevented with a proper warm-up, strengthening program, and sports specific training. In fact, studies have shown that injuries are less likely when the adductors have at least 80 per cent of the strength present in the abductor muscles.
Warm-up activities should take about 20 minutes. The warm-up includes three-to-five minutes on a stationary bicycle, stretching the adductor muscles, and performing several adductor-specific exercises (e.g., sumo squats, side lunges, kneeling pelvic tilts).
