Groin pull (groin strain)

A groin pull can make everyday movements painful and limit your ability to walk, exercise or perform at your best. Whether you're an athlete, an active adult or you simply moved the wrong way, a groin strain in the inner thigh can quickly disrupt daily life. With the right care, most people recover fully and return to the activities they enjoy.

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Labeled medical illustration of upper leg and hip muscles, including the iliacus, psoas major, adductors, and quadriceps.

Anatomy of the groin and inner thigh

The muscles along your inner thigh are known as the adductor group. These muscles connect the pelvis to the thigh bone and work together to bring the legs together, stabilize the hips and support side-to-side movement.

Because the adductor muscles handle so much force during quick, explosive movements, they're also vulnerable to injury. A groin pull happens when one or more of these muscles are overstretched or torn, ranging from mild strain to a more significant tear that limits strength or the ability to bear weight.

Overview

Symptoms

Symptoms of a groin pull can vary depending on the severity of the injury and may include:

Pain or tenderness in the inner thigh or lower abdomen
Swelling, bruising or stiffness near the upper inner leg
Weakness when lifting the knee or bringing the legs together
A popping or snapping sensation at the time of injury
Pain with walking, climbing stairs or changing direction

Symptoms may appear immediately or develop gradually. Severe pain or difficulty bearing weight should be evaluated promptly.

Causes

Groin strains occur when the adductor muscles or their tendons are placed under sudden or excessive stress. Common causes include:

Rapid side-to-side movement or twisting
Sudden acceleration or deceleration while running
Overstretching or slipping on an uneven surface
Poor warm-up or muscle fatigue — see overuse injuries
A previous groin injury that hasn't fully healed

Weakness, tightness or limited hip flexibility can also increase the risk of injury. Understanding how your strain occurred helps guide effective treatment and prevention strategies.

Risk factors

Groin pulls are common in sports that require sudden changes in direction, explosive movements or quick acceleration, such as soccer, basketball, hockey and tennis. Factors that may increase your risk include:

Tight or inflexible hip and adductor muscles
Muscle fatigue or inadequate warm-up
A history of previous groin injuries
Limited hip flexibility (see hip flexor strain) or muscle imbalance

Having one or more of these risk factors doesn't mean you'll develop a groin pull, but it's helpful to be aware of them, especially if you play sports that involve quick, explosive movement.

Diagnosis

Diagnosing a groin pull starts with a detailed discussion of your symptoms, activity level and how the injury occurred, followed by a focused physical exam to assess tenderness, swelling and range of motion.

Imaging such as X-rays, ultrasound or MRI may be used to confirm the diagnosis, rule out other conditions and determine the extent of the injury — see sports injury evaluation and imaging. Groin pulls are also classified by grade, from mild muscle strain with little loss of strength to a complete tear with significant pain and weakness. This grading helps guide the right treatment plan for your injury.

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