Pectineus muscle, commonly referred to as the hip adductor, can become injured from power walking or running long distances, leading to a groin strain which damages up to five percent of muscle fibers and may need surgical repair.
This muscle, located at the superior ramus of the pubis and inserting into the Pectineal line of the femur, is controlled by its nerve source; thus forming part of an integral system.
Causes
The pectineus muscle is one of five medial femoral hip flexor muscles responsible for moving your thigh forward during walking and running, serving as one of the adductor muscles of your hip and flexing your knee as part of its adductor muscles. Innervated by the femoral nerve (L2-L3).
Pectineus injuries are relatively rare; however, should this muscle become injured, it could lead to discomfort in your groin area and/or front top of your thigh. A common source of Pectineus strains during sports activities like ice hockey, soccer and football that involve repeated eccentric contractions is overstretching of its muscle fibers.
Causes of pectineus strain include overstretching your hip to either side during exercise, sitting with legs crossed for too long or exertion of tired muscles during workouts, or stretching too soon with fatigued muscles. Pectineus pain can range from dull ache to sudden sharp pain.
Pectineus muscle strains are injuries characterized by sharp, acute pain at the site of muscle-tendon junction and its attachment on pubic bone, often with accompanying bruising, swelling and tenderness in the groin area. Pectineus strains are more frequently seen among athletes participating in sports like ice hockey or soccer.
Athletic athletes with previous groin injuries, reduced hip adduction strength and lower levels of sports-specific training are more prone to pectineus strains. An 8-12 week active strengthening program that incorporates progressive resistive adduction and abduction exercises, hip flexion/rotation exercises using a stability ball, skating movements on a slide board and abdominal strengthening exercises can help protect against new injuries to the pectineus muscle. Self-release techniques that involve placing a pillow or bolster under one leg while lying on the floor and moving it can also help ease tension in your muscles. In addition, taking anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen may reduce pain & inflammation while visiting a Registered Massage Therapist for self-release techniques or visiting physiotherapy or chiropractic specialists could be effective solutions in treating Pectineus strain or tear conditions.
Symptoms
The pectineus muscle is a flat triangular structure located deep within the hip and upper inner thigh area that’s responsible for various movements including hip flexion (adduction). It may become injured through repetitive twisting, turning, sprinting and kicking activities such as in sports such as ice hockey, Australian & Gaelic football & soccer where adductor muscles undergo numerous eccentric contractions that strain its fibers over time.
Pectineus muscle strain symptoms typically include pain, tenderness and reduced flexibility in the hip / inner thigh area. They typically begin during activity and become increasingly worse with repetition or intensity of activities performed, as well as prolonged sitting for extended periods.
The Pectineus Muscle in the Upper Interior of Hips works together with four other primary large muscles to perform hip adduction – known as Primary Hip or Thigh Adductor Muscles. A Pectineus strain typically causes intense pain in the Groin area which increases with hip Adduction movements; therefore physiotherapy treatment may often be required in managing its symptoms.
Tight pectineus muscles may pinch the nerve bundle emerging from the femoral triangle into the inguinal ligament, leading to pectineo-femoral pinch syndrome. This condition often manifests itself among patients with very tight upper adductor muscles & only occurs in response to provocative hip flexion.
Self-release techniques may work, but for optimal results it’s wise to seek help from a licensed RMT, PT or chiro. They will teach specific stretches that target the muscles needing opening up while offering consistent treatment of trigger points with tools like massage balls and other release techniques such as trigger point releases. Finally they can devise a plan of care to prevent future strain – including stretching hips & groin, breathing deeply into your tummy as well as exercises to strengthen hip and inner thigh muscles.
Diagnosis
The pectineus muscle is a flat triangular-shaped muscle located within your inner thigh that allows for hip flexion & adduction. Together with four other muscles (gracilis, adductor longus, adductor brevis & adductor magnus), it forms what are known as hip or thigh adductors; it is also important in maintaining pelvic stability & movement. When injured or affected by trigger points within this muscle group, pain can become intensely frustrating and debilitating.
As it’s located within many other muscles in the groin and hip regions, the pectineus is highly vulnerable to overuse injuries. Power walkers, for instance, often extend their stride length in order to walk faster and farther than before; this puts additional strain on their pectineus muscles which could result in overstretching or straining; this type of injury is known as groin strain or pull.
Injurys ranging in severity from mild to moderate typically involve muscle fiber damage of up to five percent, depending on its grade of injury.
Grade 1 pectineus strains usually heal within 2-3 weeks, and moderate activity can return at comfort levels in 7-7 days – this injury type being the most prevalent.
Grade 2 pectineus strains are more severe, requiring up to eight weeks for recovery. This type of injury often affects athletes participating in sports that involve repetitive motion such as soccer and hockey players who often employ quick eccentric contractions of the pectineus muscle.
Grade 3 Pectineus Strains can lead to chronic pain and the loss of function in a muscle, typically seen among advanced athletes. They occur when muscle fibers tear either completely or partially.
Pectineus muscles are innervated by the femoral nerve. Their deep portion is supplied with blood via the anterior branch of obturator artery and connect pubic bone to upper femur. To receive prompt care if you’ve suffered a pectineus injury, seek treatment from either physical therapists or chiropractors immediately; these experts can assist in speedy healing so you can return to regular life activities more quickly.
Treatment
The pectineus muscle is a flat triangular-shaped muscle located deep within the hip & upper inner thigh area near the groin, responsible for various movements including hip flexion, adduction and leg movements away from the body. Unfortunately this muscle can become injured from repetitive or intense activities that overstretch it excessively; trigger points may form due to this, leading to excessive strain which results in overstretched or torn fibers and “groin pull” or muscle tear occurring when up to 5 percent fibers have been damaged resulting in pain, bruising swelling & tenderness in this region of front hip region.
Acute Pectineus Muscle Injuries are common among athletes competing in sports requiring repetitive twisting, turning, sprinting and kicking such as football, hockey, Australian & Gaelic Football as well as soccer. Football players appear to be at increased risk due to frequent direction changes and repetitive kicking motions which place undue strain on their pectineus muscle.
Pectineus strains should be treated like other groin injuries with ice, compression and rest. Anti-inflammatory drugs (like ibuprofen ) may help relieve any associated pain & inflammation; once this has resolved itself a physiotherapist may then recommend an exercise program designed to restore full functionality of the pectineus muscle through progressive resistive adduction & abduction exercises along with core strength & balance training exercises.
Rehabilitation after pectineus strains is essential to ensure full recovery from injury, as returning too early could result in further muscle strain or worse. By following the rehabilitation exercises correctly, performing rehabilitation exercises properly can also help prevent future groin issues.
Pectineus muscle strains respond well to soft tissue work such as active release therapy & massage, so finding a health care provider with this expertise could help protect against strains in the future.
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