The muscles of the human body represent between 35% and 55% of the total body weight, depending on age and sex. This proportion can be even slightly higher in trained individuals. For an athlete to be able to perform all the necessary movements, it is important that these muscles function properly.
However, 20% of all athletes suffer from muscle injury every year. The most common are strains, whereby the groin strain occurs very frequently. The groin strain is based on a strain of the insertion tendons of muscles on the inner side of the thigh (adductors).
Causes
The groin strain often occurs as a sports injury, when the leg suddenly moves sideways in an uncontrolled manner. This often occurs, for example, in soccer (sliding), athletics (hurdling), skiing, ice hockey or running. Any movement of the leg that is performed without first warming up the muscle group can result in such an injury.
Material failure can also lead to the symptom of a groin strain if, for example, unsuitable shoes are used in sports. A congenital deficiency of the hip bones can also promote the development of a pulled groin, as the length of the legs is often uneven, which places additional strain on the muscle group. Doping can also promote damage.
For example, anabolic steroids cause particularly rapid muscle growth, which affects the muscle tissue and promotes pulled muscles and torn muscle fibers. Finally, inflammation in the body can promote a pulled muscle or torn muscle fibre. The groin strain is diagnosed by a doctor primarily after the patient’s description of the accident.
It is important to mention at which movement the pain first occurred and how long ago the injury occurred. This is followed by a physical examination of the patient. The degree of movement of the affected leg and the patient’s perception of pain are assessed, as well as the general appearance of the affected area.
With the help of an X-ray image, the doctor can rule out a hip deformity, if necessary, or blame it on a strain in the groin. In case of ambiguity, an ultrasound device can also be used, which can clearly visualize the injury. In order to assess the severity of the groin strain, it is important to determine whether muscle fibers are affected, and if so, whether there may even be a torn muscle fiber. The therapy and prognosis of the patient is decisively influenced by whether the strain is with or without torn muscle fibers.
