Adductor tendinitis or tendinopathy
It is an irritation of one or more tendons of the adductor muscles. « The adductor muscles are the muscles of the groin and inner thigh that allow you to close your legs together. »
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What is the difference between tendinitis and tendinopathy?
The two are almost identical. Science has recently discovered that there is not always inflammation present in tendon pain.
"So when there is tendon pain without inflammation, it is called tendinopathy. When there is tendon pain with inflammation of the tendon, then it is called tendinitis."
In both cases, whether it is tendinitis or tendinopathy, the treatment is not very different. We will therefore include tendinopathies and tendinitis as being the same injury.
What is adductor tendinopathy?
It is an irritation of one or more tendons of the adductor muscles. « The adductor muscles are the muscles of the groin and inner thigh that allow you to close your legs together. »
What is a tendon?
A tendon is the structure that attaches the muscle to the bone. When a muscle contracts, the force is transmitted to the tendon, and the tendon stiffens to move the bones.
What are the causes of adductor tendinopathy?
This can be caused by:
- Too rapid overload on the hip muscles
- Repetitive hip movements (especially large movements with a lot of amplitude)
Here are some classic examples of the development of this pathology:
- Restarting our hockey, cross-country skiing or soccer season without proper moderation
What are the risk factors for developing adductor tendinopathy?
The following factors describe the people most affected by this injury:
- Men are more affected than women
- Athletes are more affected (hockey, cross-country skiing, sprinters)
What are the symptoms of adductor tendinopathy?
The most common symptoms are:
- Pain in the groin or inner thigh that appears more often gradually
- The pain can radiate to the inside of the knee
- The pain is often increased by:
- Getting in or out of the car
- Raising your leg to put on your socks or pants
- Walking with large steps
- Certain sports such as skating and cross-country skiing
- Kicking a soccer ball
How to diagnose adductor tendinopathy?
Diagnosis is possible based on the history of symptoms and a clinical examination.
When should you see a physiotherapist for adductor tendinopathy?
You should consult a physiotherapist if you have symptoms as described above or if your doctor has already ruled out any other cause that may be responsible for your pain.
You do not need to see a doctor before consulting a physiotherapist. If your condition requires you to see a doctor, your physiotherapist will be able to tell you.
What physiotherapy treatments are available for adductor tendinopathy?
Your physiotherapist will conduct an evaluation to determine the cause of your tendinopathy by assessing the following elements:
- Your joint mobility
- The gliding of your nerves
- The quality of your movements
- Your strength and stability
Based on the assessment results, your physiotherapist will:
- Mobilize your hip to reduce pain and improve your range of motion.
- Provide you with specific exercises to retrain the control of your hip movements.
- Give you exercises to regain mobility, reduce pain and regain your muscle strength.
- Teach you how to properly manage your daily activities and hobbies to optimize healing
- Give you advice for your posture and movements.
What can you do at home for adductor tendinopathy?
Temporarily stop doing movements that cause too much pain, and then gradually start doing them again.
Here are some tips that may help:
- Engage in transfer activities that reduce stress on the area, such as swimming or cycling.
- Take frequent but short breaks while sitting if the pain increases when you walk for a long time.
- Avoid groin stretches.
- If you are a runner, incorporate walking minutes into your running outings.
If you don't see any improvement after 10 days, you should consult a physiotherapist.
If you are a runner, please refer to the blog post on running (link to come) for practical tips for running.
Sources
- Grimaldi A, Mellor R, Hodges P, Bennell K, Wajswelner H, Vicenzino B. Gluteal tendinopathy: a review of mechanisms, assessment and management. Sports Medicine. 2015 Aug 1;45(8):1107-19.
- Dubois, B. (2019). « The Running Clinic, health through running ». Mons Eds.
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