Pain Relief & Proper Pulled Groin Treatment

A groin strain is a common sports injury that is felt in the inner thigh where the muscle meets the pelvic bone. You don’t need to be an athlete to experience this painful muscle strain. Once you've been diagnosed with a pulled groin, treatment will be focused around healing the injured muscles and tendons. Keep scrolling to learn the best conservative treatments and your options when it comes to professional guidance for your groin injury

Conservative Treatments for Groin Strain

Treatment for a groin strain, sometimes called a groin pull, starts will conservative measures. These treatments are typically successful at reducing pain and getting you back to the activities you enjoy.

Not sure if you pulled your groin?

Resting the Groin Muscles

The first thing you need to do when you feel that sharp pain in your groin muscle is to stop. Stop doing all the activities and movements that cause pain. A groin strain is caused by too much stress or strain on the groin muscle. Rest will allow the muscle and tendons to heal and recuperate without additional injury. Once the pain has subsided you can slowly begin resuming activity.   

Applying Cold Therapy

Adding cold therapy into your groin strain treatment will benefit your injury by reducing groin pain and swelling. Cold therapy tightens blood vessels in the area restricting the amount of blood that is brought to the site. This brings down the swelling and in turn, can reduce groin pain from a strain. Place an ice pack on your injury for 20 minute intervals.

Learn About Alternating Hot & Cold Therapy for an Injury

Bracing & Compression

Use a groin brace to support your groin area after an injury. The compression from the brace will assist with recovery by supporting the hip flexor and groin muscles until you’ve recovered. Look for a groin brace that is adjustable to customize the amount of compression and is easy to put on and take off.

Elevating the Injured Leg

Elevating an injury is an easy way to reduce swelling and pain. Raising the inside of the thigh will use gravity to encourage blood flow and fluids to return back to your heart. Elevate your injured leg while resting on the couch or bed by placing a pillow or two under your thigh and leg. Use elevation as a great excuse to rest and get your muscle injury healed quicker and with less pain.  

Groin Stretches and Exercises

After the initial injury phase has passed and groin pain is at a minimum you can begin stretching and exercising your leg. Stretching exercises will work to regain your range of motion and prevent tightness in the muscle fibers. Strengthening exercises will help you regain any loss of strength you’ve experienced during your recovery and work to prevent reinjury.

Effective Pulled Groin Stretches

Groin Strain Exercises

Over the Counter Pain Medication

Oral medications like ibuprofen are over-the-counter drugs that reduce swelling and pain. This drug class, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), are a good choice for groin strains. They are inexpensive and easy to find at any pharmacy. If you have never taken an NSAID talk to your pharmacist or doctor to prevent any unintended side effects.

Applying Massage

Massage helps to increase blood flow to the area, loosens muscle tightness, and gives you an overall sense of relaxation. Using massage after experiencing a pulled groin muscle can help you recover faster with less pain. Talk to your massage therapist or physical therapist for specific massage techniques that you can incorporate in your treatment plan.

Physical Therapy for Pulled Groin

A physical therapist is professionally trained to treat muscle injuries like a pulled groin muscle. They will evaluate your injury and develop a treatment plan specific to your needs. Your treatment will likely incorporate a series of stretches, exercises, and movement modifications to improve your recovery time. Even after you’ve left your physical therapy office you’ll be given a set of instructions on how to continue treatment at home.

Learn the Difference Between a Pulled Groin and a Hernia

How Long Does it Take a Groin Injury to Heal?

The length of time it takes to heal a groin strain will depend upon the severity of the injury. Some injuries may involve muscle tears which will significantly increase the recovery time.

For most injuries expect your recovery to take anywhere from four to six weeks. During the beginning of the recovery, work on resting, ice, and compression to support your injury. Then when the pain has subsided slowly incorporate stretching and exercise to regain strength and range of motion.

Making the Right Treatment Choice

A groin strain is a common injury that can cause bruising, pain, and make physical activity difficult. Once you’ve received your injury diagnosis rest your leg, ice the injury, and use a brace. After the pain has gone down start moving around to loosen up tight muscles and regain your strength. Get medical advice from your doctor or physical therapist before you begin treatment to ensure the best outcomes for your situation.