Some dynamic exercises, such as side-lying hip adductors and lateral lunges, could help rehabilitate a groin strain. However, to prevent further injury, it’s important not to push it too far.
A groin strain is an injury to the adductor muscles and ligaments, which are located on the inside of the thigh.
It’s usually
Symptoms may include soreness, bruising, and swelling in the area, as well as pain and loss of mobility. This could impact your daily movements, such as walking.
If you experience a groin strain, it’s important to stop activities that aggravate your condition to let it heal. As the pain reduces, you can gradually introduce exercises to increase the groin’s strength, mobility, and range of motion.
Read on to learn about 4 exercises you can use to help rehabilitate a torn, strained, or sore groin.
Treatment for a groin strain depends on the severity of your symptoms. The aim is to reduce inflammation and pain and gradually increase strength and mobility.
In the first 2 to 3 days after sustaining a groin strain, the United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS) recommends following the PRICE method to relieve inflammation and pain:
- P: Protect the injury, such as by using crutches to walk.
- R: Rest your groin and don’t do any activities that cause pain.
- I: Ice your grain for 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours.
- C: Compress your groin with a bandage.
- E: Elevate your groin above the heart, if possible.
Over-the-counter pain relievers and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) may also help relieve inflammation and pain.
After the pain subsides, gradually begin stretching and exercising to heal the groin injury.
The exercises outlined below are intended to gently build strength and flexibility in your hips, groin, and legs.
Start with the exercises that you find easiest and most comfortable. Avoid any exercise that causes you pain or discomfort. As you progress, you may be able to add the other exercises into your routine.
For best results, do these exercises daily.
This exercise targets your inner thigh muscles. If you have a lot of tightness, place cushions under your knees.
- Lie on your back with bent knees.
- Press your feet into the floor.
- Allow your knees to drop open to the sides.
- Press the soles of your feet together.
- Hold this position for up to 30 seconds.
- Return your knees to the starting position.
- Repeat 3 times.
Lateral lunges provide a great dynamic stretch for the adductors.
- Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart.
- Step out wide to the side with your right leg, keeping the left foot flat and your body facing forward.
- Bend the right knee while keeping the left leg straight.
- Push off your right leg to return to the starting position.
- Do 2 sets of 15 repetitions on each leg.
This exercise builds strength in your thigh muscles. During this exercise, engage your thigh and leg muscles to keep your leg straight.
- Lie on your back with your legs extended.
- Bend the knee of your unaffected leg.
- Press your foot into the floor.
- Engage the thigh muscles on your affected side.
- Raise your leg 8 inches from the floor.
- Slowly return your leg to the floor.
- Do 2 sets of 15 repetitions.
Side-lying hip adductions, or leg lifts, can help increase the strength and range of motion of your adductor muscles.
- Lie down on your left side.
- Rest the head on the left arm and place the right hand in front for balance.
- Place your right leg in front of the bottom leg, with the foot flat down.
- Raise the bottom leg up.
- Slowly lower it back down.
- Do 2 sets of 15 repetitions per side.
It’s not always possible to prevent a groin strain, but warming up before exercising and cooling down afterward can help prevent injury.
To prevent groin strains, exercise or perform strenuous activities with care. This is especially important if you’ve already had a groin strain or have muscle weakness in this area.
If you’ve taken a break from a sport, gradually increase the intensity and duration of your workouts. This helps you gain the strength and flexibility to support healthy movement patterns.
Another way to
Speak with a doctor if you have significant pain in your groin that hasn’t improved after 2 weeks.
A healthcare professional will ask about your symptoms and the possible cause of your injury. They’ll also perform a physical examination, which may involve moving your adductor muscles and testing your leg’s range of motion.
In some cases, they may require an X-ray or MRI.
A doctor will also
Your treatment plan may include physical therapy with exercises to help improve your range of motion and strength.
What is the fastest way to heal a pulled groin?
It’s important to stop performing painful activities when you pull a groin. Over the few days following the injury, try icing, resting, and elevating your groin to reduce inflammation. Using crutches could help protect your groin when you walk.
Is it OK to stretch a pulled groin?
Once the pain subsides in the pulled groin, you can gently start performing strength and range of motion exercises. However, it’s important not to overstretch your groin, as this may worsen symptoms.
How long does it take for a groin strain to heal?
The recovery timeline for a groin strain will depend on the severity of your symptoms. Acute injuries could take up to
While you’re healing from a groin strain, stay away from any activities that increase your pain levels. It’s also important that you continue to do groin exercises even after you see improvements.
It may take a few weeks to several months to fully recover. Once you’re fully recovered, you can slowly start your other activities again.
Pay attention to how your groin area feels as you become more active. If you start to feel the pain returning, reduce the intensity and duration of your activities.