Physiotherapy for groin strains

A groin strain is an injury to your groin, the part of the body that connects your lower abdomen to your legs and occurs when your lower abdominal or thigh muscles (adductor muscles) are stretched or torn. Groin strains usually occur in the muscles of the upper inner thigh near the pubic bone or in the front of the hip. A groin strain is also known as an adductor strain or pulled groin.

Risk factors 

Although anyone can experience a groin strain, the injury commonly occurs during sports or physical activities where you change direction suddenly, or when running, jumping or kicking. Groin strains are common sports injuries that frequently occur during sports such as football, hockey and running. A groin strain can also be caused by repetitive activities like cycling or rowing or by stretching too much during a warmup.

Groin strain symptoms

Symptoms of a groin strain may include:

• Sudden, sharp pain in your groin or inner thigh at the time of the injury. You may also feel a popping or snapping sensation
• Initial sharp pain followed by a dull ache
• Bruising or swelling in your groin area 
• Muscle stiffness or weakness 
• Pain when walking, climbing stairs or lifting your leg

Our fixed-price packages include the cost of your surgery and all appropriate aftercare appointments. However, any pre-surgery diagnostic tests and your consultant's outpatient appointment consultation fee are charged separately.

Our flexible payment options help you spread the cost of your payment across a time period that suits you.

At your first consultation, you will be seen by a chartered physiotherapist, a health professional trained in practising physiotherapy. Your physiotherapist will ask you about your symptoms, general health and what you hope to achieve from the treatment. They will ask how your groin strain occurred and talk to you about the type of sports you practice regularly. Your physiotherapist will perform a physical examination to assess the extent of your injury using tests that put your adductor muscles and tendons under resistance. They may palpate (touch) the area around your groin to check for any tenderness, swelling, or other abnormalities.

Your physiotherapist will also assess your muscle strength, flexibility and range of motion by asking you to assume positions you use during sports such as squatting and lunging. They may ask you to perform activities like jumping and jogging on a treadmill.

Your first appointment is important as it’s where you’ll meet the physiotherapist responsible for your care. Your physiotherapist will spend time getting to know you, discuss your expectations for treatment and encourage you to ask any questions you may have. At Circle Health Group, we want you to be as well-informed and comfortable as possible during your time with us, so please discuss any questions or concerns with your consultant during your appointment. 

At the end of your appointment, your physiotherapist will work with you to create an individualised treatment plan tailored to your needs. 

Other causes of groin pain

• Inguinal hernia
• Problems with your hip such as a labral tear, hip flexor strain, or stress fracture 
• Sciatica  

The initial treatment for a groin strain involves following the RICE protocol which involves rest, ice therapy, compression and elevation. This is normally recommended for the first 24 -48 hours following the initial injury.

The RICE protocol involves: 

• Rest: Rest the affected area and avoid any activities that cause pain and may make your injury worse 
• Ice: Apply ice packs or a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a damp cloth or towel to the affected area for 10-20 minutes every two to three hours. Never apply ice directly to your skin. 
• Compression: Using a compression bandage can help reduce swelling and support the affected area 
• Elevation: Keep the affected area raised above the level of your heart as much as possible to reduce swelling and allow the injury to heal. 

Physiotherapy for groin strains

Once treatment with the RICE protocol is finished, your physiotherapist will create an individualised treatment plan for you based on the type and severity of your groin strain. Treatment aims to reduce your pain, build muscle strength, restore flexibility and range of movement and allow you to return to your normal activities, including sports, as soon as possible.

Physiotherapy for groin strains may include:

Exercise

Your physiotherapist will teach you some exercises to build muscle strength and increase flexibility and range of movement. The exercises will be planned to gradually strengthen your adductor muscles over a phased rehabilitation programme. Your physiotherapist will also give you exercises to do at home.

Manual therapy 

Manual therapy for groin strains may involve massage and hip joint mobilisation techniques. 

• Massage: Massage can help relieve pain and tension in your groin as well as improve your range of movement and speed up your recovery. 
• Hip mobilisation techniques: These are a series of movements you perform either with your physiotherapist or alone to increase flexibility and range of motion in your hip joint. They involve stretching your adductor muscles as far as you can tolerate and gradually increasing this stretch over time.

Electrotherapy

Electrotherapy works by applying electrical currents to the affected area of your body to reduce swelling and pain and promote healing. There are several types of electrotherapy including:

• Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) therapy: Uses a low-level electrical current to reduce pain and relieve muscle tension.
• Electrical muscle stimulation (EMS): Helps relieve pain, reduce swelling, strengthen muscles and promote wound healing by using electrical impulses to stimulate muscle contractions. 
• Pulsed Shortwave diathermy (PSWD): Relieves pain and swelling and helps healing of damaged tissues using a high-frequency electromagnetic current. 
• Therapeutic ultrasound: Uses high-frequency sound waves to reduce inflammation and pain and stimulate muscle healing.
• L.A.S.E.R (Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation) therapy: Uses low-intensity (infra-red) light to penetrate the skin and stimulate cells, relieving pain and promoting healing and repair of damaged tissues.

Hydrotherapy

Hydrotherapy is a type of physiotherapy carried out in warm water to help relieve pain, increase muscle strength, improve circulation and promote relaxation.

Education and advice 

Your physiotherapist will advise you on helping your groin strain to heal, preventing the injury from recurring or sustaining another groin injury in the future. This may include education on using the correct posture and techniques when practising sports and learning exercises to increase strength and flexibility in your hips and groin. 

A groin strain can vary in severity from grade 1 to 3.

• Grade 1 (mild groin strain): A mild strain where up to 5% of the muscle fibres are stretched or torn usually takes an average of two to three weeks to heal.
• Grade 2 (moderate groin strain): Involves tearing of a significant percentage of the muscle fibres and can take up to two to three months to heal.
• Grade 3 (severe groin strain): Occurs when most or all of the muscle fibres are torn and may take four months or more to heal fully.

As your groin strain heals, you can gradually increase your activity level but avoid activities that cause increased pain.

Physiotherapy is a non-invasive treatment with a very low risk of complications, however, as with all medical treatments, some physiotherapy treatments have potential complications. Your physiotherapist will explain all the possible complications of your treatment to you before starting your treatment and answer any questions you may have. Please ensure you are fully aware of any possible complications before starting your treatment as this will allow you to make an informed decision.

You can reduce your risk of complications by following your physiotherapist's instructions carefully throughout your treatment. 

Sometimes groin strains can’t be prevented, but there are some precautions you can take to minimise the risk of developing a groin strain including:

• Wait until you are pain-free, and any existing groin strain has fully healed before returning to sports or activities
• Warm up properly before engaging in any sport or activity
• Increase your activity level and intensity gradually 
• Help prevent injuries by exercising your core and leg muscles regularly to build muscle strength and increase flexibility 
• Avoid overtraining and get enough rest between training sessions 
• Use the correct equipment for your chosen activity including shoes that fit properly, and provide support and stability 
• Learn the correct techniques and posture for your chosen sport or activity

At Circle Health Group, we have the experience and expertise to ensure the best possible care and outcome for our patients. As a patient with Circle Health Group, you can expect the highest standards of care including:

• Flexible appointment times and locations that are convenient for you
• The freedom to choose which hospital and consultant suit your needs
• Personalised, consultant-led treatment plans tailored to your individual needs
• Comfortable and safe private facilities maintained by expert multidisciplinary teams
• Private ensuite rooms as standard
• A range of delicious healthy meals
• Affordable, fixed-price packages with aftercare included
• Flexible payment options to help you spread the cost of your care

If you would like to see a consultant or learn more about physiotherapy for groin strains, book your appointment online today or call a member of our team directly on 0808 189 5499.

Groin Strain - Physiopedia

Groin Strain - Physio.co.uk 

Groin Pain - East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust