Groin strain is a common sports injury among athletes and is the result of overstretching the adductor muscles. To know how to treat this muscle injury, read on.

The term 'groin strain' refers to a condition in which the adductor muscles are injured. In this condition, the muscle fibers that form the adductor muscles are partially torn. There are 5 adductor muscles that start from the pelvis area and extend up to the inner thigh bone. Their main job is to keep the legs juxtaposed, and ensure their proper movement.

Grade 1, grade 2 and grade 3 groin strains indicate the degree of damage occurred in the groin area. In grade 1 strains, only a few muscle fibers are injured, hence it is regarded as a minor tear. On the other hand, the number of fibers torn in grade 2 strain is substantial and therefore, it is referred to as moderate tear. Grade 3 groin strain generally, refers to complete or fairly large tearing of the muscles. So, for such type of muscle damage, surgery is the only option.

Groin Strain Treatment
Rest, along with ice therapy, compression and elevation are often the first line of treatment for grade 1 and grade 2 groin strain. They can certainly provide substantial amount of relief from pulled groin.

Rest
Be it grade 1 or grade 2 strain, giving rest to the injured area is of prime importance. The first two days after injury should be focused on avoiding activities that put strain on the injured groin muscle. Ignoring rest is likely to worsen the injury and the associated pain. This in turn will increase the healing time as well as the treatment cost. So, to avoid all this trouble, stay away from any strenuous activity. In most cases, treatment for grade 1 injury involves taking the necessary rest, which often works to heal the tissue at the earliest. The duration time of rest will depend on the severity of the injury. People diagnosed with grade 1 strain are required to stay away from strenuous activities for a period of 21 days. On the other hand, grade 2 strain demands resting period of about 4-6 weeks to restore mobility.

Ice Therapy
In the first 48 hours after injury, ice application can play an instrumental role in repairing the injured tissue. Application of cold packs causes constriction of blood vessels, which helps to decrease swelling. 15-20 minutes of ice therapy, 3-4 times in a day, can provide a great deal of comfort. Swelling will soon vanish with regular application of ice packs.

Compression
Wearing compression shorts can work wonders to provide relief from adductor strain. Basically, compression therapy blocks the pain as well as reduces swelling in the injured area.

Elevation
Doctors often advise to keep the strained area elevated as this position also assists to alleviate swelling. So maintaining the legs raised, for some time, during the day is an easy home remedy to reduce the swelling.

Massage
A sports massage under the guidance of a sports therapist can also assist to heal the strain. It reduces the pain and the stress on the affected muscle. As a result, the person experiences immediate relief after a massage.

Surgery
When the adductor muscle tear is severe, rest or ice therapy is unlikely to provide any relief. Over 90% of the victims of the condition requires surgery and it is considered to be the last resort to relieve the discomfort. In this type of surgery, the torn muscle fibers are stitched together. Treatment for grade 2 injury may involve surgery only if the 70-80% muscle fibers are injured. Grade 3 strains usually require a surgery.

Groin Strain Symptoms
Before discussing about how to treat this injury, it is essential to know about the symptoms. The symptoms are similar to those of pulled groin. Groin pain in men and women will depend on how extensively the adductor muscle is damaged. In simple words, grade 2 strain symptoms are more severe than that of grade 1 strain. It is discussed below:

Grade 1
In this case, groin pain is apparent only after performing an exercise routine. Activities like walking, usually, do not cause any groin pain but an intense workout like running triggers pain from the groin area. The person may experience cramps in the affected area after doing any moderate to intense level physical activity.

Grade 2
The person experiences pain at intermediate periods during exercise. Inflammation in the injured groin area is distinctly visible. The site of groin strain is red and swollen.

Grade 3
People with grade 3 groin injury are unable to do simple activities like walking as the damaged area is in constant pain while doing any kind of movement. Touching the affected area causes sharp shooting pain.

Rehabilitation
Exercise forms the cornerstone of groin strain rehabilitation program. After the initial days of rest and ice therapy, it is time to do some exercises that stretch the groin area. The doctor may recommend static groin stretching exercises that may help to restore flexibility in the injured muscle. Apart from doing these groin stretches 2-3 times everyday, one can exercise on a stationary bike to improve flexibility. Make sure that the seat of the bicycle is not set too high when doing the exercise. Other exercises like lunge stretch, wall stretch and sitting groin stretch are then gradually introduced into the routine to increase mobility of the adductor muscle.

Recovery Period
Grade 2 or 3 strains that demand surgery will require 3-4 months to heal after surgery. On the other hand, a person affected with a minor to moderate groin injury might be able to resume his normal activities within a month or two. Chronic groin strain that is typically marked by recurring pain and stiffness in the injured area, may point toward sports hernia and requires consultation with a doctor for further diagnosis.

Usually, conventional treatment is enough to heal the strain, as it promotes regrowth of the damaged muscle tissue. In order to diagnose the severity of the strain, the patient may have to undergo an X-ray or a MRI scan. After examining the results and evaluating the condition, the doctor will then chalk out an appropriate treatment plan.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is solely for educating the reader. It is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of a medical expert.