Groin Pain
Groin pain is very common in athletes and manual workers, however can occur from other injuries.
Adductor Strain/Tendinopathy
This condition can be as a result of chronic stress or acute injury to the muscles which move the leg across the midline of the body. This will present as pain with walking, running or rotation activities, and can range from mild discomfort to difficulty with mobility. Acute tears will result in swelling, bruising and pain with daily activities. Chronic tendinopathy will result in pain following activity of general tightness which worsens the day following activity.
Iliopsoas (hip flexor)
This type of groin pain is often more towards the front of the groin and feels deep. This can be as a result of running, compression under large amounts of hip flexion or through overuse. Generally, you will have pain at the end of a stride with walking or when trying to sit down, stand up or get up off the ground.
Pubic related pain
This portion of groin pain arises from the pubic symphysis (bony attachment at the front between the hips) or from the inguinal canal. Inguinal canal pain can be due to a hernia (extruding organs through a hole in the connective tissue) or stress or acute tear of connective tissue. Pubic symphysis pain can be acute under traction or compression injuries (falling from a height) or a result of inflammation. This pain is aggravated by single leg activities and is worse following activity that relies on an increase in single leg weight bearing.
Physiotherapy for adductor, hip flexor and pubic pain initially aims to reduce inflammation and pain and to increase range of motion. Following this graded strengthening of specific sources of pain and biomechanical movement patterns to ease the overuse or torn structure.
Pelvic Floor and incontinence
If you think about your thorax being an elevator, your pelvic floor is the floor. The pelvic floor must be strong and have good control to hold up all your organs. The pelvic floor also plays a role in lumbar and hip stability.
These muscles can become weak or overactive due to various reasons which can cause pain, tension and urinary and/or fecal incontinence. Physiotherapy aims to determine your cause of dysfunction and provide techniques to relax or strengthen the pelvic floor.
Contact Free Movement Physio to book an appointment for a one on one consultation to discuss your groin or pelvic floor concerns.