A hip flexor strain is an injury that results from overstretching or tearing of the hip flexor muscles. These are the muscles responsible for hip flexion movements (pulling the thigh up towards the chest). They are also responsible for a hip extension movement, which is pushing your thigh behind you.
The featured photo above illustrates a hip flexor stretch, which consists of simultaneous flexion and extension movements. In the photo, the woman is flexing her hip with the left foot and extending it with her right.
Hip flexor strains can vary widely in terms of severity. They can range from a mild overstretching of the muscle (called a pulled muscle) to complete hip flexor tears. The latter may even include some bone damage.
The most common symptom of a hip flexor strain is sudden intense pain in the hip or pelvic area. You may also experience other symptoms including muscle spasms in the upper leg area, soreness in the area and others.
Treatment of most sprains requires resting the injured muscles, applying ice and taking pain relief medication.
There are various muscles that are responsible for this movement, but the primary ones are:
A hip flexor strain occurs when any of these muscles is overused and then overstretches or tears as a result.
Generally, hip flexor strains are caused by any activity that requires repetitive hip flexion or extension movements. They can also result from tight or under developed hip flexor muscles (those listed above).
The activities that increase the risk of hip flexor strain injuries include (but are not limited to) the following:
If you have a hip flexor strain, you are likley to experience the following symptoms:
This injury is closely associated with sporting activity. As a result, if you think you have experienced a hip flexor strain, consult a sports medicine health care professional.
The good news about hip flexor strains is that the overwhelming majority of them are treatable using conservative non invasive approaches. Surgery is rarely required.
Most grade I or II hip flexor strains (involving overstretching or partial muscle/tendon tearing) are treatrable at home. Your doctor may recommend:
In cases of a grade III strain (complete severing of muscles or tendons) surgery may be necessary to correct the problem. This may especially be the case if bone damage has occurred.
Your doctor will be able to go through the precise surgical options. Fortunately, the cases in which surgery is required to treat a hip flexor strain are relatively rare.
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Increase endurance and reduce injury
The high-level compressive properties of the Bio Skin Compression Shorts will help to improve your athletic performance and endurance by reducing your muscle vibration.
Increase endurance and reduce injury
The high-level compression provided by Bio Skin Compression Shorts with Groin Wrap helps to improve your athletic performance and endurance by decreasing muscle vibration.
LP EmbioZ Thigh Support Compression Shorts feature a Power System on the hips and thighs to correct your hip movement patterns and facilitate advanced muscular thigh performance. This raises your speed and accuracy and helps you to complete your hip and knee movements flawlessly. The Comfort System helps wick away perspiration and keeps you dry and comfortable. The seamless design keeps you comfortable while you benefit from therapeutic compression.
The Cramer Sports Medicine Groin Hip Spica is a wrap designed to treat groin strains, hip abductors and flexor strains
