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What is inner thigh tendonitis?

What is inner thigh tendonitis?

There are many groups of muscles which surrounds the hip joint. One group of muscles have their main function to bring the legs together – muscles of the inner thigh.

These muscles assist you to play football and also assist you whenever you engage in cycling.

The muscles attach themselves to the bone through tough/ strong cords. The tough cords may get damaged or injured and result in inner thigh tendonitis.

Injury may occur at various points such as at the point where the tough cord joins the muscle, in the middle of the tough cord or at the point where the cord attaches itself to the hip bone.

 

The injury may occur suddenly or as a result of extreme stress placed on it over an extended period of time. This results in small tears in the tough cords over an extended period of time. Eventually, the tough cord gets damaged. 

An individual with this condition may complain of pain in the groin area which seems to move into the leg.

 

Symptoms of this condition  

• Slow development of pain around the inner thigh area

•             Pain around the inner thigh whenever you move your leg forwards.

•             Pain is experienced whenever you move your legs together

•             You  may also have difficulty in performing activities such as running or cycling

•             You may experience stiffness around the hip joint which may reduce your range of movement

•             There is weakness or a decrease in strength in the inner thigh muscles

•             Continuous use of the muscles during activities may exacerbate symptoms, for example pain may worsen whenever you move your leg

•             Some individuals experience pain or stiffness which may be worse during the night or during rest and when they get up in the morning.

•             Pain may seem to reduce with activity and increases subsequent to rest

•             The affected region – area around the inner thigh – may become painful to touch and may also be swollen

•             You may find that it’s difficult to bear weight in the affected hip, or walk without assistance.

•             You may experience pain or discomfort when you attempt to stretch the affected muscles

What causes inner thigh tendonitis?

The condition may be caused by repetitive small injuries in the tough cords over a prolonged period of time.

Although the tough cords are designed to withstand a lot of stress, over a period of time the amount of stress placed on it may cause it to become damaged.

Injury then results over a period of time when this stress to the cords is not stopped.

One way of placing too much stress on the tough cords is through overtraining. The muscles are given less time to recover from the stress each time you undergo training and over time, injury may result.

Injury to these tough cords may also be as a result of gradual wear and tear or due to aging.

Other risk factors

• Most individuals who usually engage in football, cycling or track activities are prone or more susceptible to this type of injury.

• Sudden change in training regime, such as a sudden increase in duration, intensity or frequency.

This sudden alteration does not provide adequate time for the muscle to adjust to the increase stress placed on it and hence leads to tears in the tough cords.

  Some individuals who begin a new type of exercise or sporting activity may also develop an injury to the tough cords as the muscles have to adjust to new movements and stress placed on them.

• Inadequate periods of warm-ups and cool-downs during training may also cause injury to the tough cords.

These sessions, albeit short, condition or prepare muscles to accommodate the stress placed on it.

How is the condition diagnosed?

Enquiries are made about the activities you engage in, including your exercise or training regime. Enquiries may also be made regarding your symptoms and the physical activities you are able to perform.

A physical examination is performed to assess the available movement in the affected area, the presence or absence of stiffness, level of pain, presence or absence of swelling etc.

Diagnostic tests such as MRI or ultrasound or X-ray are also conducted.

 These tests are performed to confirm diagnosis and/ or rule out presence of other conditions such as broken bone.

The tests also assist in assessing the severity of the injury for the appropriate treatment to be commenced.

 

The writer is a Senior Physiotherapist at the 37 Military Hospital.

 

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