Dr. Vaishali Suri (P.T.)
Hip Flexor Strains in Sport
The hip flexors -- primarily the iliopsoas and rectus femoris -- are powerful muscles that flex the hip during running, kicking, and acceleration. Strains occur when these muscles are over-lengthened or over-contracted beyond their capacity: during explosive kicking, rapid acceleration, or sustained overuse. Hip flexor strains are very common in cricket (batting high deliveries, running between wickets), football, and athletics.
Symptoms
Anterior groin or hip pain, particularly with: hip flexion against resistance, high kicking, sprinting, and knee lift activities. Tenderness on palpation of the muscle belly (often felt deep in the groin) or proximal attachment (at the lesser trochanter for iliopsoas, at the anterior inferior iliac spine for rectus femoris). Passive stretching of the hip flexors (hip extension with knee bent) also reproduces pain.
Differential Diagnosis
Hip flexor strains must be distinguished from: hip labral tear (deep groin, snapping, pain with rotation), iliopsoas bursitis (bursa inflammation rather than muscle injury), inguinal hernia (groin bulge, cough impulse), and referred pain from the lumbar spine (L1-L3 dermatome).
Physiotherapy Treatment
Acute Phase (Days 0-5)
Ice, compression, protected activity. Pain-free range of motion exercises. No aggressive stretching of the acutely torn muscle.
Progressive Loading (Days 5-21)
Isometric hip flexion exercises progress to isotonic and then eccentric loading. Stationary cycling as early aerobic conditioning.
Functional Return (Weeks 3-8)
Running progression, kicking rehabilitation, cricket-specific running between wickets. Return-to-sport criteria: pain-free performance of all sport-specific movements.
Hip Flexor Treatment in Faridabad
At Realign Rehab Clinic, NIT-5, Faridabad, we treat hip flexor injuries in athletes and active individuals. Book your sports injury assessment today.