Groin pain is a widespread issue that affects many people, from professional athletes to those with sedentary lifestyles. This discomfort can significantly limit mobility and quality of life. Chiropractic care offers a nonsurgical approach to addressing specific types of groin pain originating from mechanical issues in the spine, pelvis, and surrounding musculature. Understanding the underlying source of the pain is the first step in determining if a chiropractor can help.
Understanding Musculoskeletal Sources of Groin Pain
Pain felt in the groin often results from issues within the musculoskeletal system, which fall within a chiropractor’s scope of practice. A common cause is a strain or tear in the adductor muscles, the group of muscles along the inner thigh responsible for pulling the legs together. These injuries frequently occur during sports that require sudden acceleration, kicking, or rapid changes in direction, like soccer or hockey.
Pain can also be referred to the groin from dysfunction in other areas, particularly the lower back and pelvis. Misalignments or restrictions in the lumbar spine or the sacroiliac (SI) joints can irritate nearby nerves that supply the groin region.
Mechanical issues like hip joint dysfunction, including restricted mobility or femoroacetabular impingement syndrome, can also cause localized groin discomfort. Furthermore, repetitive strain or muscle imbalances can lead to conditions like iliopsoas-related groin pain or osteitis pubis, which is inflammation of the pubic symphysis.
The Chiropractic Examination Process
A chiropractor’s initial approach to groin pain focuses on identifying the exact mechanical source of the discomfort. The process begins with a detailed patient history, including questions about the onset of pain, the mechanism of injury, and any activities that worsen or relieve the symptoms. This history helps determine if the pain is acute, chronic, or potentially non-musculoskeletal.
The physical examination involves a comprehensive assessment of the lower kinetic chain, including the lower back, pelvis, hips, and knees. The practitioner will perform various orthopedic tests to evaluate range of motion, muscle strength, and the integrity of ligaments and tendons. Specific maneuvers are used to test the hip joint, SI joint, and adductor muscles to pinpoint the structure at fault.
Palpation, or examination by touch, is used to locate areas of tenderness, muscle spasms, or joint restrictions in the groin and surrounding areas. Neurological screening, including checking reflexes and sensation, is also performed to rule out nerve compression originating from the lumbar spine. This thorough assessment determines if the case is appropriate for chiropractic care or requires referral.
Specific Chiropractic Treatment Approaches
Once a musculoskeletal cause is confirmed, a chiropractor will implement a multi-faceted treatment plan focused on restoring function and reducing pain. Spinal manipulative therapy, often called an adjustment, is used to restore normal motion to restricted joints in the lumbar spine and pelvis. Realigning these structures can reduce mechanical stress on the groin and improve overall biomechanics.
Soft tissue techniques are a significant component of treatment for groin pain, especially for muscle strains like an adductor tear. Techniques such as Active Release Technique (ART) or Graston Technique are often utilized to address scar tissue, break up adhesions, and improve the length and elasticity of strained muscles.
The treatment plan almost always incorporates rehabilitative exercises and stretches tailored to the patient’s specific needs. These exercises focus on strengthening the adductor and abductor muscles, improving hip flexibility, and enhancing core stability. Patients are educated on proper movement patterns and home care to prevent future recurrence of the injury.
When to Seek Emergency Medical Attention
While chiropractic care is effective for musculoskeletal groin pain, certain symptoms require immediate medical attention because they indicate a potentially serious, non-musculoskeletal condition. A sudden, severe, unexplained pain in the groin or testicle should be evaluated immediately by a medical doctor or in an emergency room. This is particularly important if the pain is accompanied by swelling in the testicle.
Non-musculoskeletal causes of groin pain include conditions like an incarcerated or strangulated hernia, which may present as a painful bulge that cannot be pushed back into the abdomen. Signs of infection, such as fever, chills, nausea, or unexplained weight loss, alongside groin pain also warrant immediate medical assessment. Similarly, if groin pain is accompanied by blood in the urine, it could indicate a condition like a kidney stone or a urinary tract infection.
Groin pain that occurs alongside pain in the chest, back, or abdomen, or that is so severe it prevents walking, should also prompt a visit to the emergency room. Chiropractors are trained to screen for these “red flag” symptoms and will refer patients for further medical evaluation when necessary.