What Is Groin Burst And What Causes It?

A groin rupture is a partial rupture of small strands of the approximating muscles of the inner thighs. With rest and proper treatment, patients usually recover completely.

This condition belongs to the group of groin problems. In addition to many other situations, it manifests itself in leisure-time sports activities, work that requires a lot of physical effort, and vehicle accidents. If you want to know more about groin burst and its treatment, keep reading!

How does a groin rupture occur?

As stated on the Kidshealth website, a groin rupture refers to a situation in which one of the muscles of the inner walls is stretched, damaged, or torn. The muscles of the viscera are the crest muscle, the adductor minimus and the adductor longus, which run from the pelvis to the femur, and the gracilis, or the adductor Magnus, which runs from the pelvis to the knee.

The Hopkinsallchildren.org website lists the most common causes of this affliction. Here are some of them:

• Sports that require fast running, quick spikes, or sudden changes of direction.
• Tight muscles. Muscles that are not properly heated and stretched are more likely to rupture.
• Poor condition or fatigue. Weak muscles are less able to tolerate the strain caused by exercise, and tired muscles are less able to absorb energy.
• Continuation of exercises too soon after injury.

Although groin burst is usually associated with exercise, this is not always the case. In general, any excessive muscle stretch or direct blow can lead to groin rupture.

Symptoms of groin burst

The Rady Children’s website states that there are three degrees of groin rupture. As you can see below, they all cause different symptoms:

• First degree. Mild pain that may not be noticed until exercise is stopped, followed by stiffness and tenderness.
• Second degree. Moderate pain and stiffness in the groin as well as slight swelling and bruising. It can adversely affect walking, and running can be difficult.
• Third degree. Severe pain, marked swelling and bruising, and inability to squeeze the legs together. Walking is very difficult.

Here are the most common symptoms of a groin rupture: swelling and bruising in the groin area, muscle cramps, weakness in the injured leg, and some degree of difficulty walking.

Diagnosis

First, the doctor asks the patient what this did before the pain appeared. Usually, a differential diagnosis is made, that is, the doctor examines the patient to rule out other ailments, such as a groin hernia.

If the groin rupture is first degree, less than 10% of the muscle fibers are torn. In secondary tears, 10-90% of the muscle fibers are torn. The third degree means that the muscle is either completely or almost completely torn. Sometimes magnetic images may be needed to determine the extent of the rupture.

How is a groin rupture treated?

Treatment depends on the severity of the injury. Milder cases may heal at two weeks of rest, while a complete rupture may require up to three months to recover. Medical records advise some guidelines for patients to accelerate recovery:

• Rest. Do nothing that causes pain during the recovery process.
• Cold. Cold baths made of ice in the groin area for about four times a day for 15 minutes are a good way to relieve pain and swelling. Remember that ice should never be placed directly on the skin.
• Medicines. Some over-the-counter medications, such as NSAIDs, can help relieve mild to moderate pain.
• Compression. You can place a compression bandage on the injured area to prevent swelling. Ask your physiotherapist about the best options just for you.
• Elevation, stretching and reinforcement. A variety of exercises and postures to help the injured muscle heal. Once again, ask a professional about the best methods just for you.
• Heat. Heat should only be used when you intend to continue exercising.

Usually the treatment is based on rest to heal the muscle. However, do not stop doing certain stretches to avoid prolonging unused muscle. Leave the recovery process to a professional.

Tips to avoid groin rupture

Sometimes  such injuries are difficult to prevent from birth, especially if you are a professional athlete. As many as 16% of all injured football players go to the doctor just because of a groin rupture. This injury is also very common in sports such as hockey, tennis and basketball.

Our last tip is to always stretch before exercising and avoid overwork. If you feel pain in the groin area, stop doing sports for a few days and treat the injured area. Undoubtedly, the best treatment for groin rupture is simply to prevent it from occurring.

Consciously strive to prevent this injury

Groin rupture is thus a relatively common ailment that results from overloading the pelvic floor muscles during exercise. If you plan your exercise carefully, stretch before exercise, and interrupt exercise when pain occurs, you will be able to avoid a groin rupture.