Adductor Longus & Brevis Trigger Points

Adductor Muscle Trigger Points Cause Inner Quadriceps and Groin Pain

Adductor trigger points are commonly associated with hip and groin pain. Many people who begin experiencing this pain can not related to a single activity or injury. In acute cases this does occur with sprinting, jumping, and quickly changing directions such as in basketball or soccer. However this often occurs with chronic repetitive movements such as walking, jogging, and running.

The pain begins in the groin or anterior hip and radiates towards the knee along the inside of the quadriceps muscle. The adductor longus and adductor brevis muscle are responsible for adduction or squeezing the knees together. However they also play a role in hip flexion with walking and running. It is in these circumstances we see many runners with excessive muscle hypertonicity and loss of flexibility in the hamstrings, quadriceps, and adductor muscles.

This radiating leg pain can be confused with low back pain, sciatica from the upper lumbar, lumbar disc herniations, iliacus muscle sprains, degenerative hip arthritis, hernias, quadriceps sprains, and iliotibial band friction syndrome.

Adductor longus and brevis trigger point radiating pain patterns can extend past the knee to the foot. In this case the condition is more likely to be misdiagnosed as low back injuries, disc herniations, or other causes of sciatic pain. The history, physical examination, orthopedic testing, and muscle testing should show that the pain patterns are different and inconsistent with many of the previously mentioned injuries.

As with any trigger point the key to proper diagnosis is palpation and reproduction of the symptoms from the anterior hip to the knee, and toward the anterior ankle. When the adductor longus and brevis trigger points are identified a proper treatment plan aimed at decreasing muscle hypertonicity, increasing flexibility, and decreasing fascial adhesions and trigger points in the leg muscles can begin.

A variety of treatments for decreasing muscle hypertonicity include massage therapy, manual therapy, active release technique, and Graston technique. All of these muscle therapies are excellent at decreasing fascial adhesions and restoring proper function to the quadriceps, adductor longus, adductor brevis, and adductor magnus muscles.

In some cases we've seen patients misdiagnosed for nerve entrapment syndromes including iliacus muscle syndrome, obturator tunnel syndrome, meralgia paresthetica , saphenous nerve syndrome, and tarsal tunnel syndrome.

In patients who experiences condition with their recreational activities such as exercise class, yoga, jogging, running, and swimming additional strengthening exercises may be beneficial. If the adductor muscles are compensating because of postural changes, low back strengthening exercises may provide significant benefit in both a short-term and long-term.

In runners the patient may not be proper we utilizing the ankle, knee, and hip for stability, strength, and endurance. Changing running gates may improve and limit future injuries, especially if the person is compensating for their weakness by increasing adductor activity while running. Muscle adductor injuries are common in both speed workouts, hill climbing, and patients who do not toe off while running. A lack of toe off can be either because of weakness, poor flexibility, or other foot and ankle injuries including Achilles tendinitis and plantar fasciitis.

Nerve entrapment injuries can benefit for a variety of strength, flexibility, and endurance exercises. The muscle therapy techniques of Graston technique, Active Release Technique, and massage therapy are also viable treatments. Low level laser or cold laser therapy can also enhance recovery and treatments.

Trigger points that produce reading pain from the anterior hip towards the ankle are the result of adductor longus and adductor brevis trigger points. Treatment should address these muscle injuries and reduce the likelihood of future reoccurrences. A variety of treatments and techniques can be utilized. Examination and treatment plans will incorporate the overall physical condition of the person, work activities, and recreational activities to designing a unique treatment plan.

Our Chandler Chiropractic & Physical Therapy Clinic treats patients with a variety of muscle, tendon, joint, and ligament injuries. The clinic provides treatment for runners, tri-athletes, and weekend warriors in addition to common headache, neck, and back patients traditionally seen in Chiropractic, Physical Therapy, Massage Therapy clinics. We work with all ages and abilities of the residents in Phoenix, Tempe, Gilbert, Mesa, and Chandler AZ.