By Nathanial Mundy, Registered Physiotherapist

One of the most common injuries in sports is the “pulled groin”.   It can be quite painful and can take you out of your normal routine for a while.  Some people even experience repeated groin injuries year after year.

But what exactly is the groin? The groin is actually a group of 5 different muscles that all help to squeeze your legs together. It is when these muscles are stretched too far or can’t handle the forces applied to them that a muscle tear can occur (a strain). Groin strains are common in sports such as hockey, soccer, squash and football, where quick changes of direction and explosive speed are required.

What are the signs and symptoms of a Groin strain?

Depending on how bad the strain is your presentation can vary greatly.  Symptoms range from slight pain in the groin with a mild strain to severe pain, swelling, bruising and extreme difficulty bearing weight in the worst cases.

So you have a groin injury…now what?

Don’t try to play through it!  I can’t stress this enough.  Too many times people tell me that “it was just a tweak” so they kept on playing only to make it worse.  Don’t let this be you!

Be patient. Your typical groin strain can take anywhere from a few weeks to many months to fully recover depending on the severity.  Don’t make it worse by playing through it or re-injure it by going back to sport too soon.

Get early assessment and proper rehab.  Knowing exactly what you are dealing with and setting it on the path to recovery as quickly as possible will ensure the best results.  Each stage of healing requires specific treatment strategies which a rehab expert can guide you through.  Being out of pain does not mean you are ready to play. Invariably, the injury will be associated with de-conditioning of the groin muscles and many re-injuries occur because people don’t progress through the final stages of return to sport. Managing these muscle imbalances and conditioning issues is the key to a successful return.

If you or someone you know is looking for help with a groin injury we are here for you. Drop by our clinic for a thorough assessment and comprehensive rehabilitation plan to get you back to your active self.

Article by Nathanial Mundy, Registered Physiotherapist at Teamworks Health Clinic, a multi-disciplinary clinic in the heart of Vancouver offering Physiotherapy, Chiropractic, Massage Therapy, Acupuncture, Dietetics and more.  For more information visit www.teamworkshealth.ca or call 604-428-3006