Walking up the stairs or simply rising up off of the sofa may be actions you take for granted. For those who suffer from hip flexor strain and pain, these actions can become extremely painful, sometimes even impossible. Lifting the knee towards your chest or body and bending at the waist all require muscles known as hip flexors. They include muscles called iliacus and psoas major, as well as the rectus femoris, which is actually part of your quadriceps. These muscles are attached to tendons, which in turn, connect them to your bones, so when you cause strain to these areas, then the damage performed can cause a great deal of pain.
If the hip flexor area continues to be damaged with overextended use or injury, then the lasting damage could become dire. How does this strain occur? Typically, when you overuse these muscles, just like with any muscle that you overwork, it becomes sore and stiff. Since these muscles are typically used for more than just exercise, for everyday movement for example, then the likelihood of their being strained is high. However, there is an increase in risk for those who are cyclists, dancers, athletes, martial artists, and those who perform step aerobics at a considerable amount. All of these activities require extended use of the hip flexor muscles and thus can lead to strain. To ensure you don’t permanently injure yourself, understand the following symptoms to determine if you’re suffering from hip flexor pain.
1. Sudden Sharp Pain In The Pelvis Or Hip Area
If you suddenly find, typically when you stand up or attempt to walk, a sharp pain that shoots through your pelvis or hip area, you may be faced with a strain. Depending on the severity of the sudden and sharp pain, you may be facing either a mild tear, which is the most common, or a severe one. If it is the latter, the pain will likely be excruciating, and you may not even be able to move. The pain, in question, also is sudden. You may not realize you’re in pain at all until you suddenly attempt to utilize those muscles.
The body uses pain to tell you that something is wrong. In terms of pain associated with the flexor area and flexor strain, then it’s attempting to tell you that either the muscle itself or tendons have been overworked. Resting may aid in this discomfort, but if it becomes too severe, then you should contact your doctor. The degree of severity of the injury may require a few additional steps to be taken. They can also help relieve the pain that you’re experiencing in your pelvis or hip area. The symptom of discomfort isn’t felt in these locations alone, however.
2. Cramp Or Clenching Sensation Around The Upper Leg
Because the muscles of the flexor area involve a series of muscles along the legs as well, the tearing and strain may be felt in the upper leg area as well. Depending on the severity of the tear or strain, the resulting pain can be extremely acute or mild. For those who have ever felt a Charlie Horse in their lower leg, the cramp felt in the upper leg can be similar in severity depending upon the strain. The location of the discomfort is due to the assortment of muscles and tendons that connect to the other bones in your lower half.
3. Upper Leg Tender
Another symptom that you may experience with flexor strain is tenderness in your upper leg area. This can occur when you’re attempting to stand up, but you may also feel it when sitting down if you’re positioned in a way that requires the tendons and muscles to be tense. The tenderness isn’t acute enough to be considered pain, but it does cause some discomfort and it isn’t normal. The tenderness may also persist, even if your leg is relaxed. The area usually associated with tenderness is the outside and inside of your thigh due to the muscle location of the flexor area.
4. Loss Of Strength In The Groin Area
Typically found in the area just inside of the thigh or at the front of the hip, the loss of strength of the groin area occurs when the muscles in this area are damaged. This tends to go hand-in-hand with flexor strain as it involves many of the same muscles. The loss of strength means that the ability to lift your leg, walk, or move your leg towards and away from your body is extremely difficult. With a severe enough symptom, it may be impossible to move your leg at all. You may notice a bruise in this area, too.
5. Inability To Kick
One of the most common symptoms of a flexor strain is if you find that you have an inabilitiy to continue kicking or kick at all without difficulty. A sharp kick requires a tightening of the muscles affected, and if those muscles contain a tear, they can’t function correctly. So, if you suspect that the flexor muscles might contain a tear or strain, carefully attempting to kick or perform a kicking motion can be a simple test to see how your body performs. If you’re unable to follow through with the motion, then you may need to contact your doctor.
6. Inability To Jump
Similar to kicking, the muscles required to jump are also found in the flexor area. This also involves the strength of your groin area, which was mentioned before. If you squat, and then launch yourself into the air in a jumping fashion without pain, then you should be fine. However, if you perform the motion and find that you either cannot perform it at all or you can perform it but with accompanying discomfort, then you may have strained your flexor muscles. If that’s the case, you should refrain from attempting to jump again, so you don’t further injure yourself.
7. Inability To Sprint
Similar to the activities mentioned before, sprinting requires muscles found in the flexor area of the body. Those muscles have to work together in order to allow the body to move. If one of those muscles has a tear or is strained, then the body will receive pain as it attempts to perform the function. Muscles that are severely torn or strained may even keep the body from performing the movement at all. Stiffness can set in as well, keeping your muscles tense and clenched, so you can’t relax them enough to perform a movement. As such moving or sprinting can be difficult.
8. Reduced Mobility
Whether its stiffness or discomfort, you may feel a need to remain still when you have a strain in the flexor area. In some cases, you may find that moving in and of itself is difficult. Your muscles may feel weak or too clenched up to work properly. As such, you may have to walk with a limp or keep from moving at all. Because the muscles allowing for movement are injured, their malfunction means your ability to move is affected. Since your body is attempting to heal itself from the tears, remaining stationary might be a hint from your body.
9. Constant Pain In The Upper Leg Area
If a cramp or tenderness in the upper leg area wasn’t a sign enough that you may be suffering from a strain, then a consistent amount of pain might be instead. This pain can also vary depending on the severity of the injured muscle in question. If the pain is constant, however, regardless of whether you’re sitting, standing, or attempting to move, then you may be facing a worrisome tear. The constant pain could be coming from a cramp of an injured muscle. If you’re experiencing this discomfort, then you should speak to your doctor quickly, so you can find relief.
10. Swelling Or Bruising Around The Area
One of the signs of a strain is a considerable amount of swelling or bruising in the area of injury. This can be in the groin area or along the legs. It may be difficult to spot, especially in the case of swelling since you can’t see the back of your legs with ease, and so these signs can be difficult to notice. However, if you feel that your legs or groin area are swollen, especially around your thighs, then you may have a strain. Bruising can either be severe or mild depending on the injury and may also be difficult to see.
