Pulled Groin
One of the common problems chiropractors treat is an acute hip flexor sprain or a “pulled groin muscle”.
It may arise as a result of a severe strain, as in a sports injury or a bad fall. But in some cases it seems spontaneous, coming on for no apparent reason. It may be gradual or a sudden spasm. The pain is in front of the hip joint and it may be difficult, if not impossible, to lift the leg.
Often, people think of it as simply a muscle or tendon sprain and assume it will go away on its own. It is true that the pain often does resolve in days or weeks. But the underlying imbalance in the spine remains and can cause future episodes of groin pain or low back pain.
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The reason for this is that the groin muscle (iliopsoas) is a large one that goes from the front of the hip to the inside of the pelvis and on to the inside of the spine. Its upper part, the psoas muscle, is attached to every bone and every disc in the low back up to and including the bottom of the rib cage. It even has attachments to the diaphragm, which can cause pain on deep breathing, coughing, or sneezing.
The spine can compensate for imbalances set up by abnormal tension in the iliopsoas muscle, so the pain goes away. The imbalance remains, however, and can lead to more frequent episodes of a pulled groin, or recurring low back pain and spasms.
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In time, degenerative arthritis or disc problems can arise from chronic abnormal movement in the spine. If you have a had a pulled groin, consult your family chiropractor. A current episode of groin pain can be significantly shortened and future problems prevented. Even if you aren’t experiencing pain at the time, your chiropractor can find and correct the related imbalances and prevent future problems.
