traumatology

Prevent injuries to the Muscles of the Inner Thigh

By Dr. Dario Mirra

Introduction

Every sport has particular needs from a technical, coordinative and conditional point of view, hence, as a direct consequence, injuries are statistically peculiar for each sporting activity.

What I will discuss in this article is a reflection, a simple opinion to prevent injuries to the inner thigh muscles, disabling discomfort typical of sporting activities that require movements with sudden changes of direction and speed (for example Rugby), lateral movements (Tennis) and again activities in which these muscles are in constant tension (Equitazione).

Anatomy of the inner region of the thigh

Below we list the muscles of the inner region of the thigh with adductory function, they are numerous and in their entirety very powerful:

  1. Great adductor
  2. Medium adductor
  3. Small adductor
  4. Ischiocrural muscles: biceps femoris, semimembranosus, semitendinosus, although they are powerful flexor muscles of the knee and extensors of the hip their function adductoria should not be neglected
  5. Great buttock - it is adductor almost in its totality
  6. Femur square
  7. Pettineo
  8. External obturator, assisted by twin muscles

Thinking of most of these muscles, and hearing about their role as adductors, it is thought that their only peculiarity is that of bringing the thigh closer to the sagittal line of the body.

These muscles, on the other hand, also play a role in the flexion-extension of the hip, which depends on the location of their upper insertion.

When the insertion is behind the frontal plane these muscles, besides being adductors, are also extenders.

When the insertion passes anteriorly to the frontal plane these muscles are also flexors.

Thus, the role of these muscles can be summarized as:

  1. Adductors.
  2. Flexors.
  3. Extenders.
  4. Basin stabilizers.

Schematizing the work of the 5 main leads, we see as follows:

    1. Great adductor.
    2. Long adductor.
    3. gracile

Their role is both the adductory function and the hip extensor.

We then have:

    1. Pettineo.
    2. Small adductor.

These muscles are adductors and flexors of the hip.

Reflection

Most athletes and gym users, in general, work the adductor muscles at the Multi hip or Adductor machine, thus training only the ability to bring the thigh closer to the sagittal plane, thus neglecting the accessory components of these muscles .

It is common knowledge that muscle imbalance is the basis of non-traumatic injuries, as there is no optimization of the forces arriving on the structures, therefore, it is easy to understand how the onset of contractures, tears, pubalgia, and also to be attributed to the fact to neglect all the biomechanical possibilities of this complex muscular system.

Conclusions

What has been exposed so far is my point of view on the etiology of some injuries and of the various resentments that can be accused of the inner thigh muscles, matured by my experience.

This article only claims to want to be a small starting point, a simple point of view and point of reflection for coaches, physical trainers, therapists and athletes, who can try to create a balance in this musculature in the presence of such annoyances. training this adductory structure with all its possibilities of movement, in order to guarantee an optimization of the force between the different muscles, therefore of the structures on which they are inserted.

Bibliography

Audouard M .: Osteopathy - the lower limb, Publisher Marrapese 1989.

Busquet L.: Pubalgia. Marrapese Publisher 1984.

Kapandji IA: Articular Physiology. Lower limb. Monduzzi Editore 2007.

Weineck J.: Sports anatomy. Mariucci Socks 2003.