The inguinal zone is an incredibly complex system of organs that belong to the musculoskeletal system and connect the pelvis and thigh. Throughout life, there is a high risk of various injuries in this area, regardless of human activity. Some injuries can be obtained even at home.
The sprain of the inguinal muscle or ligaments in this place is no exception. This can happen as a result of an incorrect movement that goes beyond the normal amplitude during walking by people who do not have sufficient stretch. Stretching can also be provoked by sharp swings of the legs during training or as a result of a fall. A factor provoking stretching of the inguinal muscle can be an inflammatory process that develops in this area and makes the ligaments with the muscles more vulnerable. Their tissues begin to weaken, the level of elasticity decreases.
Pull the groin muscles can be people of both sexes, regardless of age. At the same time, onthe appearance of a problem cannot be affected by either the characteristics of the human body or its level of training. If a person has a sprain of the inguinal muscle, then it is worth immediately starting treatment. If the problem is ignored, then severe leg muscle cramps, as well as lameness and intense pain, may soon begin. In addition, the risk of developing an inguinal hernia increases significantly, and the inguinal rings begin to expand several times. How can you determine the appearance of a sprain of the inguinal muscle and how exactly to treat such an unpleasant problem? More on this later in the article.
Signs of a problem
The very first symptom that determines the need for treatment of a sprained inguinal muscle is too strong and sharp pain directly in the groin area, as well as a loud crunch in the thigh area. After that, other signs of stretching appear. The main ones include the following:
- muscle cramps, noticeable swelling appears in the affected area;
- groin area begins to swell;
- a seal appears in the injured area;
- bruising quickly;
- temperature of damaged tissues rises very quickly;
- restrictions appear in hip movement.
The appearance of the first symptoms of a groin sprain takes very little time. In this case, the pain syndrome will be pronounced, and it manifests itself immediately after the person has been injured. It is worth noting that in this case, localization can be very different. Only a damaged ligament can hurt, also often painfulsensations begin to appear around the affected area.
Onset of symptoms 24 hours later
A day after the person was injured, the triangular muscle begins to contract in the affected area. This leads to the formation of a cavity or cones of a rather large size. Gradually, blood vessels begin to rupture, and a large hematoma forms. On palpation of the damaged inguinal muscle, increased density and the presence of severe swelling can be noted.
External signs
By appearance, it is possible to determine the stretching of the inguinal muscle in men and women only a day after the injury. Individual signs may even appear only after a couple of days. But at the same time, by very strong pain and the sound of a crunch, you can most likely determine the presence of a sprain. You should not wait until external symptoms appear, because discomfort, weak muscles and leg cramps will not be the only companions of a sprain. If therapy is not started in time, it can end very sadly, because due to the stretching of the inguinal ligaments and muscles, the legs can stop moving altogether.
Varieties
Stretching the inguinal muscle in women and men can have several degrees of severity. Depending on how severe the condition of the victim is, the optimal therapy option should be selected. The recovery time will also vary. Sprain classification is based on the presence of certain symptoms, as well as how badlydamaged tissue in the groin.
First degree. Minor injury
Incomplete stretching. In this case, there is no sharp pain. Painful sensations will be pulling and mild. The person feels slight discomfort and there are no restrictions in the mobility of the hip. Most of the symptoms do not appear even a few days after the injury, so the person does not think about how to treat a sprained groin.
In most cases, an incomplete sprain resolves without any treatment. But to speed up the recovery process, the doctor may prescribe special therapeutic exercises or physiotherapy procedures.
Second degree. Sharp pain
In this case, the stretch is stronger. The signs are quite noticeable. The pain is sharp and well-defined, greatly aggravated during movement. Almost immediately, swelling and bruising appear due to hemorrhage under the skin. A person can easily walk and even jump, but he is unlikely to be able to run.
Third degree. Swelling and pain
In this situation, there is a complete stretching of the inguinal muscle. All symptoms appear immediately. However, they are clearly defined. The pain of a sharp nature does not go away even if the person is at rest and does not move at all. The edema is large, hemorrhages are observed in the entire inguinal region. After some time, muscle spasms may appear. A person needs to anesthetize the damaged area and immediately deliver to the hospital. Such an injury needs urgent and long-term treatment. The recovery period can be up to three months. In especially severe cases, even six months.
Full break
If the injury was very serious, the muscle in the groin can be completely torn. In this case, you can not do without urgent surgical intervention. There will be no result from a conservative method of treatment. With a complete rupture, you should immediately call an ambulance, which will determine what to do with a sprain of the inguinal muscle in an individual case.
First aid to the victim
Treatment of a sprained groin should be started immediately. First aid for an injured person is to apply a cold compress to the affected area.
Note! In no case should you warm the ligaments, because this will lead to an accelerated appearance of signs.
To ease the pain even a little, a bottle of cold water or ice is applied to the affected area. In this case, the destruction of blood vessels can be avoided. Do not apply a cold compress in the place where the skin is exposed, because this can cause serious damage to the epidermis.
After an injury, the hip must be completely immobilized, for which a splint can be applied. You need to limit the mobility of the hip for several weeks and at the same time move exclusively on crutches.
Restoration process
Inguinal muscle strain therapy must be mandatorycomplex. Initially, you need to use ointments or balms that will help:
- eliminate pain;
- remove swelling of the damaged area;
- get rid of hematomas;
- make tissues more elastic, restore normal hip mobility.
After the victim undergoes primary treatment, it is imperative to do an ultrasound. With it, you can exclude damage to the ligaments and tissues that are located around the inguinal muscle. If a specialist sees a complex injury, then surgery may be needed to completely restore the integrity of the damaged tissues. The operation is prescribed in case of a serious lesion. In the rest, as a rule, conservative treatment will be quite enough. Treatment includes massage, physiotherapy, physical education of a therapeutic type. Only a specialist can prescribe treatment. On their own, a person will not be able to calculate the necessary load, which can lead to serious complications.
Preventive measures
It can be very difficult to stretch the inguinal muscle at home, but it's still worth knowing about ways to prevent this problem. It is important to be careful during movements, not to make very sharp swings with your legs. If you are doing gymnastics, then before starting a workout, you definitely need to warm up your muscles and ligaments well. Exercises are done gently and smoothly.
To definitely warm up the muscles and ligaments of the groin, you can perform special exercises. Also an excellent method of warming up is light running onfor 20 minutes. Of course, the best way to prevent sprains will be a great physical shape of a person, as well as a gradual, maximum accurate increase in muscle elasticity.
Sprain is a very common injury in people who play sports frequently, regardless of the skill level of the athlete. It is worth noting that the more experience an athlete has, the less the risk of such an unpleasant injury as a sprained inguinal muscle. If this problem occurs, you should seek the help of a doctor in order to avoid complications and promptly begin treatment.
