The inguinal zone is an incredibly complex system of organs that relate 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 occur even in a domestic environment.
Stretching of the inguinal muscle or ligaments in this place is no exception. This can happen as a result of improper movement, which goes beyond the limits of normal amplitude while walking by people who do not have sufficient stretching. Sharp leg swings during training or as a result of a fall can also provoke stretching. The factor that provokes the extension 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.
People of both sexes can pull the groin muscles, regardless of age. At the same time, neither the features of the human body nor its level of preparation can affect the appearance of a problem. If a person has an extension of the inguinal muscle, then it is worth starting treatment immediately. If the problem is ignored, then severe cramps in the muscles of the legs, as well as lameness and intense pain, can soon begin. In addition, the risk of developing inguinal hernia significantly increases, and inguinal rings begin to expand several times . How can you determine the appearance of an extension of the inguinal muscle and how to treat such an unpleasant problem? More on this later in the article.
Symptoms of a Problem
The very first symptom that determines the need to treat an extension of the inguinal muscle is too strong and sharp pain directly in the groin area, as well as a loud crunch in the thigh area. After this, there are other signs of stretching. The main ones include the following:
- muscle cramps, noticeable swelling appears in the affected area;
- the inguinal region begins to swell;
- a seal appears in the injured area;
- a bruise occurs quickly;
- the temperature of damaged tissues rises very quickly;
- restrictions on hip movement appear.
The appearance of the first symptoms of an extension of the inguinal muscle takes very little time. The pain syndrome will be pronounced in this case, and it manifests itself immediately after the person has been injured. It should be noted that localization can be very different. An extremely damaged ligament can hurt, and often painful sensations begin to appear around the affected area.
The appearance of symptoms after a day
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 break, 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
In appearance, it is possible to determine the extension of the inguinal muscle in men and women only a day after the injury. Individual symptoms may even occur only after a couple of days. But at the same time, it is very likely to determine the presence of stretching by very severe pain and the sound of a crunch. You should not wait until the symptoms of the external type appear, because discomfort, weak muscles and leg cramps will not be the only satellites of stretching. If you do not start therapy in time, then this can end very sadly, because due to the stretching of the inguinal ligaments and muscles, the legs may stop moving at all.
Varieties
Stretching of the inguinal muscle in women and men can have several degrees of severity. Depending on how severe the condition of the victim is, you need to choose the optimal treatment option. The recovery period will also differ. The classification of the sprain is based on the presence of certain symptoms, as well as how badly the tissues in the groin are damaged.
First degree. Mild injury
Incomplete stretching. In this case, there is no sharp pain. Painful sensations will be pulling and weakly expressed. A person feels slight discomfort and at the same time there are no restrictions on hip mobility. Most of the symptoms do not appear even a few days after the injury, so the person does not think about how to treat the extension of the inguinal muscles.
In most cases, incomplete stretching goes away without any therapy. But in order to speed up the recovery process, the doctor may prescribe a special therapeutic gymnastics or physiotherapeutic procedures.
Second degree. Sharp pain
In this case, the stretching is stronger. Signs are quite noticeable. The pain is sharp and pronounced, significantly increased during movement. Almost immediately, puffiness and bruising appear due to hemorrhage under the skin. A person can walk and even jump without much difficulty, but he is unlikely to be able to run.
Third degree. Swelling and pain
In this situation, there is a complete extension of the inguinal muscle. All signs immediately appear. Moreover, they are clearly expressed. 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 cramps may appear. A person needs to anesthetize the damaged area and immediately deliver to the hospital. Such trauma needs urgent and long-term treatment. The recovery period can reach three months. In severe cases, even six months.
Full break
If the injury was very serious, the muscle in the groin can completely break. In this case, do not do without urgent surgical intervention. There will be no result from a conservative treatment. With a complete break, you need to immediately call an ambulance, which will determine what to do when the inguinal muscle is stretched in an individual case.
First aid to the injured
It is necessary to begin treatment of an extension of the inguinal muscle immediately. At first aid, the injured person needs to apply a cold compress to the affected area.
On a note! In no case can you warm the ligaments, because this will lead to an accelerated appearance of signs.
To at least slightly relieve pain, 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 open, because this can cause serious damage to the epidermis.
After injury, you need to completely immobilize the thigh, for which you can lay a splint. Limit hip mobility for several weeks and at the same time move exclusively on crutches.
Recovery process
Therapy for stretching the inguinal muscle must be comprehensive. Initially, you need to use ointments or balms that will help:
- eliminate pain;
- relieve swelling of the damaged area;
- get rid of hematomas;
- make the tissues more elastic, restore normal hip mobility.
After the victim undergoes primary treatment, an ultrasound scan must be done. With its help, it is possible to exclude damage to ligaments and tissues that are located around the inguinal muscle. If a specialist sees a complex injury, then, perhaps, surgery will be needed to completely restore the integrity of the damaged tissue. An operation is prescribed in the event of a serious lesion. In the rest, as a rule, a conservative treatment will be quite enough. Treatment involves massage, physiotherapy, physical therapy of a therapeutic type. Only a specialist can prescribe treatment. On his own, a person will not be able to calculate the necessary load, which can lead to serious complications.
Preventative measures
At home, stretching the inguinal muscle can be very difficult, but you still need to know about ways to prevent this problem. It is important to be careful during movements, not to make very sharp swings with your feet. If you do gymnastics, then before starting a workout, you need to warm up your muscles and ligaments well. Exercises are done neatly and smoothly.
To certainly warm up the muscles and ligaments of the groin, you can perform special exercises. Also, an excellent run for 20 minutes is considered an excellent warm-up method. Of course, the best way to prevent stretching will be the excellent physical shape of the person, as well as a gradual, maximum accurate increase in muscle elasticity.
Sprain is a very common trauma in people who often play sports, regardless of the level of skill of the athlete. It is worth noting that the more experience an athlete has, the lower the risk of getting such an unpleasant injury as an extension of the inguinal muscle. In the event of this problem, it is necessary to seek the help of a doctor in order to avoid complications and promptly begin treatment.