The key difference between hip flexor and groin strain is that hip flexor strain is an injury that occurs in the muscles that are located in the place where the thigh meets the hip, while groin strain is an injury that occurs in the muscles of the inner thigh.
Muscle strain is an injury to a muscle or tendon. Minor injuries cause only overstretching of a muscle or a tendon, while severe injury may cause partial or complete tears of the tissues. They are sometimes called pulled muscles. Muscle strains normally occur in the muscles of the lower back and in the muscles at the back of the thigh. Hip flexor and groin strain are two different types of muscle strains.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Hip Flexor Strain
3. What is Groin Strain
4. Similarities – Hip Flexor and Groin Strain
5. Hip Flexor vs Groin Strain in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Hip Flexor vs Groin Strain
What is Hip Flexor Strain?
Hip flexor strain is an injury that occurs in the muscles called hip flexors. These muscles are located where the thigh meets the hip. It is a tear in the muscle tissue. Hip flexor strain is a common injury in athletes. Therefore, this is commonly classified as a sports injury. Other than athletics, it can also be identified in sports like hockey, football, and martial arts. The typical symptoms of hip flexor strain may include pain, a feeling of tightness in the hip, trouble moving, weakness in the lower abdomen or hip, bruising or discolouration of the affected area, swelling, and muscle spasms. The causes of hip flexor strain include repeated use of the same motion, not warming up before exercises, a lack of flexibility, and traumas like falls in playing sports such as athletics, football, or hockey falls and car accidents.
Hip flexor strain can be diagnosed through physical examination and imaging tests like ultrasound and MRI. Furthermore, treatment options for hip flexor strain may include resting (stopping physical activity), applying ice or cold compress for 10 to 15 minutes every hour, compression by using a bandage around the hip, and elevation (lifting the hip and the lower body).
What is Groin Strain?
Groin strain is an injury that occurs in the muscles of the inner thigh. Sometimes, it is also called a groin pull. This type of strain is very common in people who play sports that need lots of running and jumping, such as football and hockey. The symptoms of a groin strain may include pain in the groin and inside of the thigh, pain that usually occurs when legs bring together, pain when raising the knee, a popping feeling during the injury followed by severe pain, antalgic gait, and swelling in the affected area. Groin strain is caused by sprinting, a burst of speed, or sudden changes in direction with playing sports such as track and field, basketball, football, rugby, hockey, and skiing.
Moreover, groin strain can be diagnosed through physical examination, plain radiographs in the anteroposterior pelvis and anteroposterior and later hip, ultrasound, MRI, and CT scan. Furthermore, the treatment options for groin pain include icing the inside of the thigh every 20 to 30 minutes every 3 to 4 hours for two to three days, compressing the thigh through a bandage, taking anti-inflammatory drugs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen and naproxen), active starching, and strengthening exercises and surgery.
What are the Similarities Between Hip Flexor and Groin Strain?
- Hip flexor and groin strain are two different types of muscle strains.
- Both muscle strains are caused by overstretched muscles or muscle tears.
- Both muscle strains have similar symptoms, such as pain in the affected area, swelling, etc.
- They are common in people playing sports like athletics, football, hockey, etc.
- Both muscle strains are diagnosed through physical examination and imaging tests.
- They are commonly treated through resting, applying ice, pain medications, and physical therapy.
What is the Difference Between Hip Flexor and Groin Strain?
Hip flexor strain is an injury that occurs in the muscles located in the place where the thigh meets the hip, while groin strain is an injury that occurs in the muscles of the inner thigh. Thus, this is the key difference between hip flexor and groin strain. Furthermore, hip flexor strain is caused by repeated use of the same motion, not warming up before exercises, a lack of flexibility, and traumas like falls in playing sports such as athletics, football, hockey, and car accidents. On the other hand, groin strain is caused by sprinting burst of speed or sudden changes in direction with playing sports such as track and field, basketball, football, rugby, hockey, and skiing.
The below infographic presents the differences between hip flexor and groin strain in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.
Summary – Hip Flexor vs Groin Strain
Hip flexor and groin strain are two different types of muscle strains that are common in people who play sports such as athletics, football, and hockey. Both these muscle strains are due to overstretched muscles and muscle tears. Hip flexor strain is an injury in the muscles where the thigh meets the hip. Groin strain is an injury in the muscles of the inner thigh. So, this summarizes the difference between Hip flexor and groin strain.
Reference:
1. “Hip Flexor Strain: Symptoms, Treatment & Recovery.” Cleveland Clinic.
2. “Groin Pull/Strain: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments.” WebMD.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Muskelgruppen” By Orthokin – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia