Hip and Groin Injury

This injury guide identifies the common causes of a hip and groin injury; symptoms, treatments and rehabilitation.

Groin Strain
Abdominal Strain
Hip Bursitis

Groin Strain

What is a groin strain?

Groin strain – or a groin pull – is the result of applying too much pressure to the groin muscles in your inner thigh.

As the groin muscles are suddenly or forcefully tensed or overworked, they become overstretched. More severe strains tear the muscle fibres. The groin muscles, called the adductor muscle group, consists of six muscles that span the distance from the inner pelvis to the inner part of the femur (thigh bone). These muscles pull the legs together, and also help with other movements of the hip joint.

Groin strain symptoms

• Pain in the groin and the inside of the thigh
• Pain bringing legs together
• Pain raising knee
• Popping or snapping sensations
• Swelling

A groin strain can be quite painful, depending on the severity of the injury. Groin strains are graded as follows:

• Grade I Groin Strain: Mild discomfort, often no disability. Usually does not limit activity.
• Grade II Groin Strain: Moderate discomfort, can limit ability to perform activities such as running and jumping. May have moderate swelling and bruising associated.
• Grade III Groin Strain: Severe injury that can cause pain with walking. Often patients complain of muscle spasm, swelling, and significant bruising.

What causes groin strain?

Groin strain’s are common in sports such as football, rugby and hockey but also affect runners and jumpers. Constant high-energy, impacting  and multi directional movement can overwork the groin muscles. Constant sharp changes in movement or direction can lead to the adductor muscles being overstretched and torn.

Groin strain treatment

Groin strain treatment is relatively straightforward. The PRICE approach is recommended by NHS Choices:

• Protection – protect the groin from further injury – using a support bandage if appropriate
• Rest – stop the activity that caused the injury, and rest the injured joint or muscle. Avoid activity for the first 48 to 72 hours after injury
• Ice – for the first 48 to 72 hours after the injury. Apply a cooling therapy like Physicool that will reduce the pain and inflammation
• Compression – compress or bandage the groin sprain to limit any swelling and movement that could damage it further
• Elevation – keep the injured area raised and supported on a pillow to help reduce swelling

Physicool provides the key stages of PRICE in a single reusable bandage, providing protection, cooling and compression for the groin injury to help the healing process. A Physicool bandage can be applied to the groin and the cooling effect recharged by spraying Physicool Coolant directly onto the bandage whilst it is in position.

Physicool is a unique cotton bandage impregnated with a patented liquid which draws heat away from the affected tissues by rapid evaporation. While the deep tissues are being cooled, the simultaneous compression effects of Physicool modify the inflammatory response to soft tissue damage which helps promote healing.

Abdominal Strain

What is abdominal strain?

An abdominal muscle strain, also known as a pulled abdominal muscle, is an injury to a muscle in the abdominal wall. A strain occurs when a muscle is stretched too far or hyperextended. When this happens, the muscle fibres are torn.

Symptoms of abdominal strain

• Pain
• Swelling
• Difficulty performing some movements

What causes an abdominal strain?

Abdominal strain could be due to sport – or equally likely, from an abdominal strain during stomach exercises. This strain is characterised by a tear within the muscle. Usually the muscle is stretched beyond its ability, becoming torn. The severity of the strain can be classified as first, second or third degree.

• First degree abdominal strain – damage to a few muscle fibres
• Second degree abdominal strain – damage to a number of muscle fibres
• Third degree abdominal strain is a total muscle rupture

Abdominal strains are caused by overexertion of the abdominal muscle. This can happen:

• Doing an activity that the muscle is not prepared for
• Exercising excessively
• Performing exercises or athletic activities incorrectly
• Lifting heavy objects
• Suddenly twisting the body

Abdominal strain treatment

Treatment for abdominal strain is quite straightforward.

• Rest
• Ice or cooling therapy (Physicool) to relieve pain and swelling
• Painkillers

Protection, rest, ice, compression and elevation (PRICE) is one of the most recommended approaches for the management of abdominal sprains. The aim is to minimise haemorrhage, swelling, inflammation and pain, to provide the best conditions for healing to take place.

The PRICE approach is recommended by NHS Choices:

• Protection – protect the injured area from further injury – using a support bandage if appropriate
• Rest – stop the activity that caused the injury, and rest the injured joint or muscle. Avoid activity for the first 48 to 72 hours after injury
• Ice – for the first 48 to 72 hours after the injury, apply a cooling therapy like Physicool
• Compression – compress or bandage the injured area to limit any swelling and movement that could damage it further
• Elevation – keep the injured area raised and supported on a pillow to help reduce swelling

Physicool provides the key stages of PRICE in a single reusable bandage, providing protection, cooling and compression for the abdominal strain to help the healing process. A Physicool bandage can be applied to the thigh and the cooling effect recharged by spraying Physicool Coolant directly onto the bandage whilst it is in position.

Physicool is a unique cotton bandage impregnated with a patented liquid which draws heat away from the affected tissues by rapid evaporation. While the deep tissues are being cooled, the simultaneous compression effects of Physicool modify the inflammatory response to soft tissue damage which helps promote healing.

Hip Bursitis

What is hip bursitis?

Hip bursitis is the swelling or irritation of the bursa sac in the hip. The bursa is a sac comprising lubricating fluid, found between tissues such as bone, muscle, tendons and skin. The job of bursa is to decrease rubbing, friction and irritation.

Symptoms of hip bursitis

• Pain on side of the hip
• Increased pain when walking or climbing stairs
• Swelling
• Trouble bending and lying on side

What causes hip bursitis?

Hip bursitis is commonly caused by repetitive, minor impact on hip area, or from a sudden, more acute injury. Age is also a factor. As tendons mature, they are not able to tolerate stress sufficiently; they have less elasticity and are prone to tearing. Overuse or injury to the joint also increases risk of hip bursitis.

Hip bursitis treatment

Treatment for hip bursitis is relatively straightforward.

• Cool the area to relieve the pain and swelling
• Ceasing strenuous or exertive activity
• Anti-inflammatories
• Rest

Protection, rest, ice, compression and elevation (PRICE) is one of the most recommended approaches for the management of hip bursitis. The aim is to minimise swelling, inflammation and pain, to provide the best conditions for healing to take place.

Physicool provides the key stages of PRICE in a single reusable bandage, providing protection, cooling and compression for the bursitis to help the healing process. A Physicool bandage can be applied to the thigh and the cooling effect recharged by spraying Physicool Coolant directly onto the bandage whilst it is in position.

Physicool is a unique cotton bandage impregnated with a patented liquid which draws heat away from the affected tissues by rapid evaporation. While the deep tissues are being cooled, the simultaneous compression effects of Physicool modify the inflammatory response to soft tissue damage which helps promote healing.