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  • Groin (adductor) strain

  • 843 Sprains and strains of hip and thigh
  • 843.8 Sprain of other specified sites of hip and thigh
  • 843.9 Sprain of unspecified site of hip and thigh

  • S73.109A Unspecified sprain of unspecified hip, initial encounter
  • S73.199A Other sprain of unspecified hip, initial encounter
  • S76.919A Strain of unspecified muscles, fascia and tendons at thigh level, unspecified thigh, initial encounter

Description

  • Tear or rupture of the adductor muscles
    • Pectineus
    • Adductor Brevis
    • Adductor Longus
    • Adductor Magnus
    • Gracilis
  • Athletes often feel a pop in the muscle
  • Condition may result in abnormal stress to the pubic bone, pubic tubercle, or pubic symphysis
  • Pubalgia-osteitis pubis: a collective term referring to disorders that cause chronic pubic pain
  • Symptoms from increased mechanical stress in pubic region due to abnormalities or stress from osseous, ligamentous, or muscular structures

Essentials of Diagnosis

  • Diagnosed primarily through signs and symptoms, exclusion of other pathologies typical to the region
  • Ball or roll of fibers on palpation
  • Grade 1: minor stretch or tear of < 10% of fibers
  • Grade 2: 10 to 90% of fibers torn
  • Grade 3: full tear, rupture
  • Can result from chronic, repetitive stress/exertion during sports (kicking, sprinting, or twisting at high speeds)
  • May be acute tear with sudden movement of hip abduction
  • Differential diagnosis for other orthopedic (pubic, spine) or medical (intra-abdominal pathology, hernia) pathologies that warrant more immediate intervention is essential

General Considerations

  • Pubalgia-osteitis pubis: a collective term referring to disorders that cause chronic pubic pain
    • Caused by repeated trauma from activities that over-stress the pubic bone or tendons, causing shearing of the pubic symphysis
  • Diagnosis often made through exclusion of other pathologies
  • Full history, medical screening, and differential examination of pelvic/lower abdominal ensure appropriate diagnosis
  • Treatment based on severity, duration of symptoms, associated pathology, physician preference

Demographics

  • Common in participants of exertional sports.
  • Often a result of slip and fall

Signs and Symptoms

  • Pain from kicking, running, sprinting, squats
  • Tenderness over the muscle belly
  • Possible tenderness over proximal insertions of the adductor tendons or insertion of the rectus abdominus
  • Possible pain and limited ROM with passive hip flexion or abduction
  • Possible weakness of lower abdominals or any components of hip musculature

Functional Limitations

  • Pain/limitation with running
  • Pain/limitation between sitting and rising from chair
  • Pain/limitation with getting up from floor
  • Pain/limitation with rising from supine positions

Possible Contributing Causes

  • Muscle imbalance
  • Forceful trauma or slipping of leg into abduction
  • Limited ROM in hip
  • Increased tone or shortening of iliopsoas, rectus abdominus, or hip adductors
  • Participation in exertional sports (i.e., ...

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