Hip & Thigh

Groin (Adductor) Strain

Also called: Pulled groin

Injury to the inner-thigh muscles from cutting, skating, kicking, or a slip into a split — the hockey and soccer signature. Shares real estate with hip joint problems and athletic pubalgia, so persistent 'groin pulls' that don't heal deserve a closer look, not just more rest.

Common signs

Sharp inner-thigh/groin pain with a cutting or kicking moment
Pain squeezing the knees together
Tenderness along the inner thigh toward the pubic bone
Pain with sprinting or change of direction

Seek help now if

Severe pain with a pop and major weakness
Groin pain with abdominal involvement, coughing/sneezing pain (consider athletic pubalgia/hernia)
Deep joint-type groin pain with rotation (consider the hip joint itself)

If any of these is sudden or severe, call 911 or go to an emergency room. For the others, get examined before you start self-care.

What to do first

Brief relative rest, then early gentle loading — adductor squeezes at pain-free intensity start within days
Ice initially; keep walking normally as soon as gait allows
Grade it: squeeze strength versus the other side is the practical measure

The longer road

Progress: isometric squeezes → adduction against resistance → lateral movement → cutting progression
Chronic groin pain that shrugs off rehab: examine the hip joint, pubic symphysis, and abdominal wall — the great mimics
Copenhagen adduction exercises are the evidence-backed long-term protector for field/ice athletes

Natural healing options we use

Manual therapy for the adductor group and related chains
Chiropractic care for pelvic mechanics
Graded loading through sport-specific patterns
Attended e-stim; nutrition support for repair

About imaging

Clinical for most; MRI when high-grade tear or the mimics are in question.

Daily self-care

Daily pain-free adductor squeezes during recovery
Retrain lateral movement before returning to cutting sports
Keep Copenhagens in the program permanently (athletes)

Book a visit Call 469-620-6245 All conditions

How we can help

Keep working on it at home

Once you have been examined and cleared to load it, these free home programs cover this part of the body.

Hips & pelvis Bulletproofing Thighs Bulletproofing The Body Audit: test your own range

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Please read: this page is education, not a diagnosis. A proper examination is how a condition gets confirmed and a plan gets built. See our medical disclaimer.