Understanding Pulled Groin Muscle Symptoms
A strained groin muscle is commonly referred to as a pulled groin muscle. It is important to understand pulled groin muscle symptoms. A strain occurs when a muscle or tendon in the body is stretched beyond its normal limit. It is sometimes simply called a pulled muscle. A groin strain occurs when any of the muscles on the inside of the thigh are stretched beyond capacity. Athletes who suffer groin pain usually have had an injury to one of these muscles. Those who play soccer, hockey, and football are especially susceptible to these and other kinds of strains. Injuries from falling, twisting, or other sudden traumas can lead to acute pain in the groin muscles. Overuse can also bring about problems for the athlete and non-athlete alike.
What does a Pulled Groin feel like?
As a physically active person, you may suffer from groin pain at some point in your life. Pulled groin symptoms may include:
- Tenderness and pain on the inside of the thigh and groin area
- Pain when bringing your legs together
- Pain when raising your knee
- A snapping or popping feeling at the time of injury that results in severe pain
If you experience any of these pulled groin symptoms, you need to know if you have a groin strain or if you have actually torn a muscle in your groin. A strained groin muscle can be prevented in several ways. Some of these include wearing proper footwear, warming up before working out, increasing exercise intensity slowly, and doing exercises to strengthen your thigh muscles.
Treating a minor strain
Many minor strains and orthopedic injuries can be treated through RICE: rest, ice, compression, and elevation. These types of injuries can heal within a couple of weeks while more intense strains may take up to a month and a half to heal completely. Occasionally, a groin injury can result in more than just a strained muscle. If a muscle is torn, the severity of the tear will dictate whether you need surgery to repair the damage. Sometimes RICE is enough to help during months of recovery, but not always. It can be challenging to diagnose a tear on your own, but these injuries are usually associated with greater pain, more swelling and bruising, and more stiffness in the area.
Treating a groin tear
If you have severe groin pain, or severe muscle pain of any kind, it never hurts to see a specialist. With a sudden and painful injury, you should visit the Express Care Clinic at Colorado Springs Orthopaedic Group. Your doctor can help diagnose the severity of your pulled groin symptoms and how best to treat the injury. He or she understands the differences between sprains and tears and will put you on the fastest road to recovery. If you have a minor injury, try RICE for a while and see if the pain decreases over the next few days. If your condition does not improve, it is time to visit one of the specialists at Colorado Springs Orthopaedic Group.