How to care for a pulled groin muscle

Stop sprinting, kicking, cutting, or stretching that produces sharp pain. Walking is reasonable when it does not cause a marked limp or increasing discomfort.

A pulled groin usually involves one or more adductor muscles on the inner thigh, often near their attachment to the pelvis. It may follow a sudden change of direction, forceful kick, slip, or rapid acceleration.

Pain can be felt when bringing the legs together, changing direction, or getting out of a car. Bruising, tenderness, weakness, and a reduced stride may occur. Hip, abdominal, hernia-related, or bone problems can also produce groin pain, so persistent symptoms merit examination.

During the early painful period, use relative rest and a wrapped cold pack for comfort, keeping a cloth between it and the skin. Compression shorts may feel supportive if they do not cause numbness or extra pain.

As walking settles, begin comfortable hip movement and gentle muscle contractions, then progress strength, balance, running, direction changes, and sport-specific drills. Move forward only when the current level does not produce a meaningful flare during or after activity. A physiotherapist can identify deficits and guide loading.

Seek urgent assessment after a forceful injury if you cannot bear weight, pain is severe, there is a visible deformity, or swelling or bruising expands rapidly. Sudden testicular pain or swelling, a painful groin bulge, abdominal pain, fever, numbness, or a cold or pale leg also requires prompt care.

Book a routine assessment if pain is not steadily easing, keeps returning with activity, or prevents normal walking and daily tasks.

Ask which structure seems injured, how much activity is appropriate, which strength differences need work, and what running, cutting, and kicking tests should be comfortable before full training resumes.