Adductor (Groin) Muscle Strains and Soccer

Adductor or groin muscle strains are a common injury in sports that involve a sudden change of direction such as soccer. Often the onset is sudden and the tenderness is usually localised around the groin muscle area. The hip adductors consist of a number of muscles and are primarily made up of the adductor magnus, minimus, brevis, and longus.

A common cause of adductor strains in soccer is when the adductor muscles get forcibly placed on stretch when they are contracting. This occurs when the player kicks a ball but is met by resistance by the opposing player. The adductors can also suffer from overuse in soccer because as the athlete kicks a ball using the inside of his foot such as with passing, most of the force generated to perform the kick is from the adductors. This chronic overuse of the adductor muscles can lead to conditions such as adductor tendinopathy and osteitis pubis.

Early management of an adductor muscle strain involves reducing ongoing bleeding and swelling using the RICE principle for the first 48 hours. Stretching of the muscle is not advised during this period.

Rest from aggravating activities.
Ice. 20 minutes every hour.
Compression
Elevation

Following this initial 48 hour period, further rehabilitation is needed to ensure an early return to your previous activity levels and to prevent future re-injury.