What is a Groin Strain?
A groin strain is a tear or rupture to any one of the adductor muscles. There are five adductor muscles, the pectineus, adductor brevis and adductor longus (called short adductors which go from the pelvis to the thigh bone) and the gracilis and adductor magnus (long adductors which go from the pelvis to the knee). The most common muscle to be injured is the adductor longus muscle which connects from the pubic ramus to the medial (inner) surface of the femur (thigh bone). The main function of the adductors is to pull the legs back towards the midline, a movement termed adduction. During normal walking they are used in pulling the swinging lower limb towards the middle to maintain the bodys balance. They are also used extensively in sprinting, playing football, horse riding and hurdling. A rupture or tear in the muscle usually occurs when sprinting, changing direction or in rapid movements of the leg against resistance such as kicking a ball.
