The adductor muscles of the leg include the adductor longus, adductor magnus and adductor brevis, gracilis and pectineus muscles. Their job is to move the leg inward – adduction. Injury to the adductor muscles of the legs is possible especially in sport fields that involve kicking and especially soccer. This is commonly referred to as adductor strain.
Injury to the adductor muscles is felt by the athlete as pain around the insertion of the muscles to the pubis. Other symptoms of adductor strain include anterior thigh pain and pain in the thigh while walking, running or kicking. As a result of the adductor strain, other muscles are effected. These muscles include:
- Gluteal muscles (maximus and medius) and piriformis
- Lateral muscles of the thigh
- Rectus muscles that strain more to stabilize the body
An adductor muscle tear can heal within 10 days if it is a partial tear or within 45 days if it is a complete tear. Otherwise, treatment of adductor muscle strain or adductor tear includes:
- Relative rest
- Muscle cooling
- NSAIDs
- Physiotherapy (see ‘rehabilitation’ bellow)
- Short wave length ultrasound
Rehabilitation of an athlete with adductor strain includes the following stages:
- Acute phase – Lasts 48 hours. The athlete is prescribed rest, cold packs and non-painful stretching exercises.
- Recovery phase – Lasts from 48 hours to around 6 weeks. Treatment includes NSAIDs, stretching exercises, heat through ultrasound and hot packs and adduction exercises. During this phase pain in the thigh should disappear and full range of movement should be recovered.
Possible adductor exercises include holding a ball between the knees, adducting the leg against resistance. - Maintenance phase – Function is regained by exercises and return to athletic activity. This is done gradually while competitive sports can only be pursued after full range of movement and strength have returned. In the begining only isometric exercise is allowed. Eccentric exercise is allowed last.
