Physiotherapy management of inner thigh strain
A precise diagnosis is necessary to make sure that the right management procedure is set in place. In the treatment of inner thigh strain, having adequate rest is a simple and vital component in rehabilitation.
Advertisement
Rest therefore permits enough time for the injury to heal and to avoid unnecessary activity which could cause more damage.
The individual rests from those activities or postures that worsen their symptoms. Rest may be a challenge for some individuals but it is necessary in rehabilitation.
Applying ice to the injury is one of the main management techniques used due to its ability to decrease swelling and provide a substantial pain relief.
Management involves pain relief and finding the cause of the injury to ascertain long-term benefits.
When the pain begins to decrease, the individual is assisted to undergo another aspect of the rehabilitation programme which includes strengthening and stretching exercises.
Also the injury is reassessed at specific times to prevent recurrences.
Therapeutic Exercises
These are modified to suit the individual and help to keep the thigh strong and enable him/her to return to sports or previous activities.
Stretching the inner thigh muscles helps to release the tension in it.
The stretching exercises should be performed at least twice daily provided they do not cause or increase symptoms.
The individual may begin these exercises after a few days. The stretching exercises may be done before or after the daily strengthening programme.
Strengthening the abdominal and lower back muscles assists in relieving the thigh muscles of the stress placed on them.
The strengthening exercises are also performed daily even when the individual returns to his/her previous activities.
Stretching exercises
Lie on your back on a flat surface. Place both feet on the flat surface so that your knees are in the air.
Gently allow your affected thigh to fall outwards to the limit that you can tolerate and hold the position for 10-15 seconds.
Bring your leg back to the initial position.
Lie on your back, with both feet on the floor. Bend the injured leg towards your chest with your hand assisting the bend.
Pull your knee towards your chin whilst keeping your head on the flat surface.
You should feel a slight stretch on the thigh and hold for 10 seconds.
Strengthening exercises
Stand close to a table with the affected leg facing the table and with a resistance band tied around the ankle. Keep your back and knee straight. Gently move your leg away from the table, as far as you can and hold the position.
Sit in a comfortable chair with one end of the resistance band tied to your affected thigh and the other end tied to a stable object.
Gently move your thigh away from the stable object, as far as you can tolerate. Hold and relax.
Preventive measures
You should get a lot of rest and keep away from over-training to avoid muscle fatigue and decrease the risk of injury.
Stretch the thigh muscles regularly on a daily basis to maintain the flexibility in the muscles.
If you are an athlete, then you need to ensure that you adequately warm-up prior to training. The warm-ups should include stretches and various movements.
Perform exercises to strengthen your muscles and improve your stability.
Improve the strength of the inner thigh muscles using weight or resistance bands. It is particularly important to strengthen the muscles which caused the injury, to avoid a reoccurrence.
The writer is a Senior Physiotherapist at the 37 Military Hospital.
(Email: paniervs @live.com)
