Groin Strain - advice please

[Novice Gardener]

I just wondered if anyone can offer me a bit of advice here. Youngest lad (12) is a keen footie player but sufferers from recurring groin strains. He warms up properly before playing, but virtually every week he pulls up with a groin strain. The last time the doc said to rest for 3 weeks which he did, but he's just played again today and has got another one. Would something like a pair of cycle shorts under his footie shorts help??

[Two_Sheds]

this may help (courtesy of Google) Groin Strain (Adductor Strain) in Depth - Hernia & Groin

[lynda66]

won't hurt ..... ..... well it will if he strains it ....... my son had a problem with his knees getting strained, he got some advice from the physio regarding building up particular muscles, to support the muscles that were getting strained and touch wood hasn't had problems since...... think this would probably help your son too.

[Novice Gardener]

Thanks two sheds, I think its just a level 1 strain. The last time when he was in a lot of pain, he'd played footie on the Sunday and was complaining of pain when he came off, but then the next morning he sneezed as he was walking accross the front room and he was on the floor in agony. I didn't know about applying an ice pack - I presumed that rubbing it to keep it warm would have been more effective, but thats cos I'm not a doctor!! Thanks for the link - very informative

[Two_Sheds]

Welcome
I don't know much myself, but I know where to look for a man what does

[Novice Gardener]

Thanks too lynda66

[Farmer_Gyles]

when i was 10 i was playing footy and ended up with a twinge in my groin - next day i couldn't put any weight on my left leg - i just collapsed
ended up in hospital with my left leg in traction for a week docs said "maybe torn ligaments" or something
i used to get the odd twinge after that - would make running difficult / awkward

when my son was 10 he suffered similar - doc said 4 causes of pain there, ligaments / groin strain / something else and a hip joint disease (can't remember the name) - because i'd had similar at the same age, doc sent him to hospital for x-rays to check for the hip joint thing - all clear fortunately, so doc said probably groin strain and rest for a couple of months and to do proper stretches and build up muscles etc

and it's the real rest that's needed .......

[bobleponge]

I used to suffer a similar problem for years, mainly due to not warming up and down properly. I know you say he warms up and down etc, but it just maybe that he doesnt do enough. Also rest is a biggy. I would advise (it will kill him at that age but....) a couple of months with no footy.
Cycling shorts helped me, as did, finally, warming up for well over half an hour. Stretching the abductors gently for a few seconds at a time just wasnt enough for me, and if I didnt do half an hour, I would suffer.
Good luck to him though, hope he sorts it out.

[nelliegemini]

Don't shout if I've got this wrong, but I read recently that stretching before exercising isn't always a good thing, obviously warming up is good but I was taught to stretch as part of warming up and if the two have got confused, then ...

I am obviously just quoting something I've read but here it is:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...-injuries.html

Although I do stretch like mad after exercise, seems to make sense then.

[bobleponge]

Yes indeed NG. I always warmed up including stretching. Just a very light bit of exercise first and then slight stretches and so on and so on. I found that if I didnt stretch, especially my abductors, I suffered for ages afterwards.
Obviously now I'm old I just turn up, play rugby for 80 minutes at a very slow pace and fall into the bar and drink myself fit.