How to Release Your Tight Groin Muscles: Tips and Exercises
Do you experience tightness or discomfort in your inner thighs? If so, you might be dealing with tight groin or adductor muscles. These muscles are crucial for various movements, including walking, running, and squatting. In this article, we will explain what the groin muscles are, why they can become tight and painful, and provide a three-step approach to effectively release tight groin muscles. Let’s get started on your path to improved mobility and reduced discomfort.
If you prefer videos, watch the video version below!
Understanding the Groin/Adductor Muscles
The groin muscles, also known as the adductor muscles, are a group of muscles located on the inner thigh. They include the adductor brevis, adductor longus, adductor magnus, gracilis, and pectineus muscles. These muscles are primarily responsible for adduction, which is the movement of pulling the legs toward the midline of the body. They also assist in stabilizing the pelvis and hips during various activities.
Why Groin Muscles Become Tight and Painful
There are several reasons why your groin muscles might become tight and painful:
- Overuse: Repetitive movements or excessive physical activity can strain the adductor muscles, leading to tightness and discomfort.
- Inactivity: Prolonged periods of sitting or inactivity can cause the groin muscles to become tight due to lack of movement.
- Imbalance: Muscle imbalances between the adductors and their opposing muscles (abductors) can lead to tension and pain.
- Injury: Strains or tears in the adductor muscles from sports or sudden movements can result in tightness and pain.
A Three-Step Approach to Releasing Tight Groin Muscles
To effectively release tight groin muscles, it’s essential to follow a comprehensive approach that addresses muscle tension, restores motion, and reinforces stability. Here’s a detailed plan:
1. Reduce Tension with an Adductor Rockback Stretch
The first step in alleviating tightness is to reduce tension in the groin muscles through stretching.
- Adductor Rockback Stretch:
- Begin on all fours with your hands directly under your shoulders and your knees wider than hip-width apart.
- Extend one leg out to the side, keeping it in line with your hip and foot flat on the ground.
- Slowly rock your hips back towards your heels until you feel a stretch in the inner thigh of the extended leg.
- Hold this position for 30 seconds, then return to the starting position.
- Repeat 2-3 times on each side.
This stretch helps to lengthen the adductor muscles, reducing tension and preparing them for further mobility exercises.
2. Restore Motion with an Adductor PAIlS/RAILs Exercise
Once tension is reduced, the next step is to restore motion in the groin muscles using Progressive Angular Isometric Loading (PAILS) and Regressive Angular Isometric Loading (RAILS) exercises.
- Adductor PAILs/RAILs Exercise:
- Set Up: On all fours, extend one leg out to the side; other knee under hip, hands under shoulders.
- Rock Back: Slowly rock hips back towards the heel until you feel a stretch in the inner thigh of the extended leg; keep back straight and core engaged.
- Hold Stretch: Maintain the stretch for 1-2 minutes.
- PAILs Contraction: Press extended leg down into the ground, increasing effort to 70-80% over 10-15 seconds
- Sink Deeper: Relax and rock back slightly more; hold for 10-15 seconds.
- RAILs Contraction: Attempt to lift the extended leg off the ground, increasing effort to 70-80% over 10-15 seconds
- Repeat: Repeat the Pails/Rails contractions for 2-3 rounds
- Switch Sides: Return to the quadruped position and repeat on the other side.
This exercise helps to increase the range of motion in your adductors by actively engaging and stretching the muscles.
3. Reinforce with Strength and Stability using the Copenhagen Plank
The final step is to reinforce the mobility gains with strength and stability exercises, specifically targeting the groin muscles.
- Copenhagen Plank:
- Lie on your side with your top leg supported on a bench or a chair and your bottom leg extended below it.
- Prop yourself up on your forearm, keeping your body in a straight line.
- Lift your hips off the ground, using your adductor muscles to maintain stability.
- Hold this position for 20-30 seconds, gradually increasing the time as you get stronger.
- Repeat 2-3 sets on each side.
The Copenhagen plank is excellent for building strength and stability in the adductor muscles, ensuring they remain flexible and resilient.
Conclusion
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