ByL Lily McCann
Groin injuries are definitely not the most popular topic of conversation – just the thought of one makes most people squirm. Groin injuries, however, are unfortunately particularly common in the world of combat sports and indeed most other sporting activities. Whether it be a caused by kicking too high when cold, or blocking a particularly powerful strike, this type of injury is particularly unpleasant and persistent. Not only is it painful, it prevents all but the most gentle training and has other unsavory effects on your lifestyle.
What Is A Groin Strain?
For many, a groin strain requires no introduction, we have seen many an athlete wince in pain after suffering this particular injury. In scientific terms a groin strain is a tear, or injury, to the adductor muscles located in the inner thigh. This group of muscles, responsible for pulling the legs together and some hip movements, include the adductor magnus, adductor longus, adductor brevis, pectineus, and gracilis, with the most commonly injured muscle being the adductor longus.
Damage is caused to the adductors by stretching the muscles beyond their limits. Common culprits include; improper warm up, over stretching, incorrect joint manipulation, hyperextension (perhaps caused by blocking a particularly forceful move) and in some cases just sitting the wrong way.
Injury takes the form of tears to these fan-like structures, which then cause localised pain and swelling. A serious tear can lead rapidly to a premature end to any athletic career.
Symptoms and Effects Of Groin Strain
The symptoms of groin strain are fairly easy to recognize but can vary in terms of severity and are often graded 1, 2 or 3, in terms of; level of discomfort, disability and amount of muscle spasm, swelling and bruising involved.
Similar sporting injuries to the groin area include sporting hernias. These are caused by weakening and damage to the abdominal wall, and symptoms include groin pain similar to that of a groin strain.
Other unpleasant side effects to groin injuries and hernias include mobility issues and possibly the loss of sexual drive and function. Groin injuries and hernias in particular may be linked to impotence and a reduced sex drive, leaving male athletes not only feeling frustrated due to the lack of training, but also feeling embarrassed in the bedroom department. If pain is no longer a factor and the injury is on its way to recovery, some athletes temporarily utilize drugs such as Viagra to help them overcome this problem. You can discuss these problems with your doctor who can give you a prescription, or there are various safe places to buy Viagra online. However, for most men this problem is temporary and/or the pain is too much to consider any form of sexual activity anyway.
Treatment
The method of treatment used for a groin strain or pull is dictated by the severity of the injury. Unsurprisingly, rest is the key to successful treatment, however frustrating this may be. Generally you can continue activities that do not aggravate the injury and when returning to training, remember to take things slow and stop if you feel any discomfort.
The most common methods for treating groin injury are RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation), gentle stretching and light massage. Heat applications can also help loosen the muscle and are particularly useful before any stretching. Anti-inflammatory medicines such as Ibuprofen are often prescribed or can be obtained over the counter to relieve the pain and calm any inflammation. Temporary problems such as lack of sex drive and ability can be discussed with a doctor and treatment taken if recommended. Physical Therapy can also sometimes prove helpful in speeding recovery, however this has achieved mixed results.
In severe cases and after 6 months of symptoms persisting under appropriate treatment, surgery might become an option, however this should always be considered the last resort and does not guarantee a return to full fitness.
Prevention
That wise man was right when he said prevention is better than the cure. Although there are no guarantees and accidents do happen, there are some straightforward precautions you can take to help prevent a groin injury.
The first and possibly the most important, is ensuring you warm up properly. Any warm up should get your blood pumping round your body and include a period of stretching while warm that incorporates the groin area. This ensures that the muscle is at its most flexible and reduces the risk of hyperextension and injury.
Secondly when training or sparring with a partner be mindful of each other and be careful not to overextend a joint or put a move on too fast. In a competition environment this can be difficult to maintain, but when you are practicing the last thing you want is to be put out of action long term due to an injury.
Some people find wearing neoprene shorts helps support the area and keep the muscles warm, which is helpful both during recovery and in prevention. Some athletes find that taping up the groin area also has a similar effect.
Groin injuries are unpleasant, embarrassing and thankfully in many cases preventable and treatable. Hopefully by putting in proper warm ups and looking after our sparring partners, groin injuries will not be as common a problem in the future.
