THE ADDUCTOR MAGNUS, BREVIS, and LONGUS, as well as the GRACILIS and PECTINEUS on the inside of the upper leg, are responsible for pulling the leg toward the midline and assisting in flexion and medial rotation of hip. Like any other muscle group the adductors need to be both strong and flexible.
Sports such as soccer, equestrian events, ice hockey and cross country skiing demand powerful adductors. However, if you don’t counter the strength with flexibility you have a good chance of groin pulls which send you to the bench, incontinence which sends you to the diaper department and bowed legs which send you to the long pants department.
All the adductors originate and attach to one of the pubic bones (close to the pelvic floor) and insert to the femur with the exception of the gracilis which inserts to the tibia. If the muscles are not flexible they pull on where they are attached. Thus the groin pull, incontinence and bowed legs. And the more powerful the muscle, the more powerful the spasm.
A groin pull is an injury to an inner thigh muscle that happens where the inside of your upper thigh and your abdomen come together. It results from putting too much stress on the adductor muscles. When they are not flexible and the muscles are tensed too forcefully or suddenly, they get over-stretched and torn. An unintentional split will do it as well as an awkward slide into second base.
Adductors attach to the pelvic floor so running on the road as well as the sports mentioned above can result in incontinence. Other things contributing to incontinence are childbirth, sexual abuse and direct hard sit down falls as on stairs, cement or ice.
Babies are born with a tendency toward bowed legs due to their position in the womb but usually straighten out as walking begins. These days we hardly ever see bowed legs on kids, teens and young adults. However, as a tennis fan, I’ve noticed a tendency toward bowed legs on many a young professional tennis player. Perhaps this is due to the powerful muscles used in side to side movements.
Tight adductors can cause a muscle imbalance resulting in the uneven wear of the medial meniscus and the start of bowed legs.
WHAT TO DO? PREVENTION!!!!
Don’t knock flexibility. Strength plus flexibility in the proper timing and intensity give you coordination. That means you play better and are not as prone to injury. Stay flexible. Flexible muscles give. Tight powerful muscles tear under the stress of unintended moves.
Muscles have two properties: contract and relax. Use seeking massage and trigger point work as described in PAIN ERASURE and MYOTHERAPY to keep your muscles in good working order. Follow your trigger point work with stretching exercise to the inner thigh and strengthening exercises to the hip and outer thigh.
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If you have questions or need help, email me at enid@bonnieprudden.com. For more information about Bonnie Prudden®, Bonnie Prudden Myotherapy®, workshops, books, self-help tools, DVDs, educational videos, and blogs, visit www.bonnieprudden.com. Or call 520-299-8064 if you have questions or need help. Enid Whittaker, Managing Director, Bonnie Prudden Myotherapy®
