What is inguinal ligament pain?
The inguinal ligament is a connective tissue strand that runs along the hip. It is an offshoot of the muscles of the abdominal wall and connects the pubic region with the outer hip scoop on both sides. The inguinal ligament thereby forms a boundary of various anatomical structures and represents the transition of the abdomen in the inguinal region to the leg.
In the area of the inguinal ligament there are numerous blood vessels, nerves, lymph node stations, muscles, tendons, ligaments and other conduits. Pain in this area can result from numerous causes and can be unpleasantly sharp. They can be intensified mainly by movement and radiate into neighboring regions such as the hip, leg or genital region. They usually occur unilaterally, as they are localized complaints.
Causes
Strain is a potential cause of pain in the inguinal ligament. The inguinal ligament itself may be torn or one of the numerous other muscular structures in the groin region may be affected. The inguinal ligament can be torn in sports or during rapid jerky movements.
Particularly high lifting of the knee or large lungeing steps can stretch the inguinal ligament. Parts of the abdominal muscles or the upper leg muscles can also be responsible for the pain on the inguinal ligament. An important muscle that runs underneath the inguinal ligament towards the leg is the so-called “psoas muscle”, which can be pulled in the case of hyperextension of the leg and fast sprints.
It causes pain that is localized at the level of the inguinal ligament. Inflammation in the region of the inguinal ligament can originate from various pathways and is often difficult to assign to a precise structure due to the anatomical complexity of the groin. Inflammation is primarily conspicuous by typical signs of inflammation.
These are redness, pain, overheating, swelling and limited function. The muscles and tendons may be inflamed due to mechanical irritation and may be very painful. The pain is intensified especially during movements in the hip joint.
The hip joint can also be behind this. Long-standing degenerative changes or acute illnesses can cause an inflammation in the joint, which is noticeable as pain in the groin. More rarely, lymph nodes, the inguinal canal or parts of the intestine can also cause an inflammation of the inguinal ligament.
One of the most common causes of pain at the inguinal ligament is inguinal hernia, in which a portion of the intestine exits the abdominal wall. In unfavorable progressions, severe painful inflammation can occur in the affected intestinal segment. More rarely, however, the cause of the pain may be in the pubic region.
For example, an inflammation of the testicles and epididymis can project into the groin area and cause considerable pain. Sport is the most common cause of harmless and temporary pain in the inguinal ligament. Various types of sport can cause injuries to the inguinal ligament, as well as to the muscles of the thigh, hip and abdominal wall, and can lead to pain in the inguinal ligament.
These include sports such as basketball, soccer and other so-called “stop&go” sports. But swimming and jumping sports also cause multiple injuries in the groin area. Hurdlers are the most affected, as the jerky hyperextension in the hip joint places a particular strain on the inguinal ligament. It is important to warm up and stretch the muscles and ligaments before doing sports, especially in cold seasons. In case of an acute strain or tear, the sport must be interrupted and the groin must be cooled.
