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Groin ligament sprain

Medical expert of the article

Orthopedist
, medical expert
Last reviewed: 05.07.2025

Groin strains are almost always the result of mistakes made while playing sports.

The groin area is a collection of nerve fiber plexuses, blood vessels, and joints of the hip spine. In addition, it is in the groin area that the large muscles of the thighs and the ligamentous tendon apparatus are located.

Most often, groin sprains occur in people with low and average levels of physical fitness. Such cases are common during sports, this is due to sudden acceleration in an exercise, incorrect rotation of the leg, change in direction of movement, falling and other errors.

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Causes of Groin Strain

A sprain is a common and far from pleasant injury. This process is painful and does not go away as quickly as we would like. That is why every person who is at risk should know the causes of a sprain of the inguinal ligament.

Typically, a sprained groin is the result of a sudden movement in the joint that exceeds its normal range. The main causes of traumatic injury are:

  • gross errors and violations of rules in the gym,
  • natural tendency to dislocations in the hip joint area,
  • arthritis and osteoarthritis of the hip joint,
  • various inflammatory processes that can disrupt the functioning of the tendon apparatus.

Despite all the reasons for stretching the inguinal ligaments, it is worth noting that the regenerative capacity of ligamentous connections is quite high. A common example is the spontaneous fusion of ligaments even after their complete rupture.

Groin strain

A groin sprain is a process of injury to various types of tendons and muscles that connect the torso and thigh areas. The most common injury is to the large triangular muscle, which is located on the inside of the thigh.

There are several degrees of inguinal ligament sprain:

  • The first degree of injury is the mildest and is accompanied by minor discomfort in the area of the injured hip. In these cases, the traumatic injury does not restrict a person's movements.
  • The second degree is characterized by mild pain in the area of injury and limited ability to perform a number of exercises (jumping, running, leg swings, etc.). In rare cases, bruising and swelling may occur.
  • The third degree of severity is accompanied by severe pain when walking, as well as muscle spasms, swelling and bruising.

Symptoms of a Groin Strain

The symptoms of a sprained groin depend on the type of traumatic injury itself. There are three types of injury: chronic, acute, and subacute.

If we talk about the symptoms of chronic stretching of the inguinal ligaments, they will differ from the classic form. Such an injury often manifests itself with the onset of secondary pathologies. This process is cicatricial changes in muscle and tendon tissue. This form of injury is observed in most cases in people who are professional athletes.

The acute form of injury is a complex of symptoms. First of all, it is acute pain in the area of injury. Sometimes the radius of pain can cover not only the inner part of the thigh, but also the outer one. Mobility in the area of traumatic injury becomes limited.

In the case of the subacute form, the symptoms are less noticeable, but still present. Low level of pain in the area of injury, slight swelling and slight limitation of hip mobility.

Diagnosis of Groin Strain

When diagnosing a groin sprain, all the nuances of the injury are clarified. This process is aimed at recognizing the injury and identifying its form and complexity. In this way, a diagnosis is established, and measures for further treatment are taken. Diagnosis is most often based on a general comprehensive study of the problem, a description of complaints and the use of the necessary studies. It is the establishment of the correct diagnosis and determination of the form of sprain by the doctor that is the key to a quick recovery from the injury.

The diagnosis is made by a traumatologist who conducts an examination and makes a decision on additional examination and the use of diagnostic equipment. Ultrasound, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging are used for diagnosis.

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Treatment of groin strain

A professional examination and an accurate diagnosis make it possible to begin treatment for a groin strain.

If you have a groin sprain, you need to provide first aid. As with many traumatic injuries, you should apply something cold to the injured area of the thigh. This could be ice, snow, a bottle of cold water, or whatever you have on hand. After that, you need to use a tight bandage. It is strongly recommended that a person with such an injury limit their movements as much as possible and ensure rest.

Once first aid has been provided, you need to make an appointment with a doctor. For recovery, it is usually recommended to reduce the load on the site of injury to prevent the situation from worsening. The doctor will also prescribe ointments for external use and, if necessary, medication.

Incorrect treatment of groin strain can lead to undesirable consequences. Among them is an inguinal hernia, which may appear after some time. To avoid such troubles, you should always seek help from a qualified doctor and responsibly treat all his recommendations.

Sports and various training sessions are prohibited until complete recovery and restoration of the ligament apparatus. The rehabilitation program may include attending therapeutic exercise classes under the supervision of an instructor and therapeutic massage.

Prevention of Groin Strains

To protect yourself from injury, there is prevention of inguinal ligament sprains. This is a simple complex that is aimed at reducing the risk of this injury.

First of all, before each workout in the gym, jogging, fitness, it is very important to stretch your muscles. Several simple exercises will help you warm up your muscles and prepare your body for physical activity. In addition, during training, you need to pay attention to the smoothness of the movements performed. Each jerk, sharp turn or leg lift can increase your chances of getting a sprained groin. By adhering to these simple rules, you can maintain the normal position of the ligamentous apparatus and enjoy sports.

Groin Strain Prognosis

Ligaments are important components of connective tissues and perform the function of binding bones in joints together. It is the ligamentous apparatus that ensures the mobility of joints and their correct movement. They also limit joints from movement in directions that are not natural to them.

Let's make a small forecast of groin strain. If we reduce ignoring the rules of warming up and warming up the muscles before training, the incidence of injuries will be much less. Beginners in sports need to look objectively at the tasks set for themselves and not expect quick results. It is the manifestation of intolerance in sports that is the harbinger of injuries and exclusion from training for a long time.

Groin strain is one of the most common injuries among people involved in sports. The more experience an athlete has, the less likely he is to make such mistakes.


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