Diagnosing Adductor Tendinopathy

Groin injuries are difficult to diagnose, especially when chronic, however adductor tendinitis and tendinopathy are among the most frequent and easily identified groin injury. Adductor tendinitis or tendinopathy will often occur along with other groin injuries (such as osteitis pubis) that may go unnoticed.

To help your doctor achieve a proper diagnosis, he/she will begin with a medical history about you, your current condition and symptoms. He/she will inquire about the intensity of your present pain, the duration of your symptoms and the limitations you are experiencing. Details about what instigated the problem, when it started, and whether or not you have ever had treatments for this or a similar condition in the past, will be very helpful in assessing your injury.

A physical examination will be performed to determine if you have any signs of adductor tendinitis or tendinopathy. Your doctor will visually assess and palpate (feel) the muscles, bones and other soft tissue in and around your pelvis and groin area (near and/or including your genital area) as well as your hip, spine, and lower body to evaluate sameness (symmetry), recognize differences and identify pain and tenderness. This will help to discover any abnormalities, such as mild or severe inflammation, fluid, bruising, bone or tissue deformity, alignment issues, and leg length discrepancies. He/she may ask you to complete a series of hip and leg movements to see what motions cause pain, weakness or instability, such as contracting your adductor muscles against resistance. This will help to determine the location of your injury and test for the grade of your adductor injury. He/she will also evaluate your gait (the way you walk) to determine if you have any adductor or other muscle weakness.

Your doctor will look for muscle imbalances around the adductors and abdominal muscles that attach at the pubic bones and pubic symphysis.

Most Common Adductor Tendinopathy Diagnostic Tests:

X-rays will provide a two-dimensional image of the overall structure of your pelvis and groin. They are helpful in identifying pelvis instability, fractures, abnormal bone shapes (bone spurs or bone cysts, wear and tear on the joints) and/or other groin or hip problems.

Isotope Bone Scans are used to identify bone abnormalities, such as a tear, inflammation, fracture or infection of the pubic bone. It will also identify whether other groin conditions are present (osteitis pubis, sports hernia, fractures).

MRIs (magnetic resonance imaging) will provide more detailed information and will help to evaluate the soft tissues in and around your groin and pelvis (muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia, and other connective tissues). It can identify ligament or tendon damage, and can help to determine the extent of your injury, the grade of your tear or inflammation, as well as other associated groin conditions.

Diagnostic ultrasound (ultrasonography) or CT scans (computerized tomography) can be used to provide a more thorough 2 or 3-dimensional assessment of the soft tissues, organs and bones in and around your groin and pelvis. Ultrasound is useful for diagnosing and locating muscle and tendon tears, but not tendinopathy.

A Black Body Radiant Energy Kit is one of the most helpful tools for a wide varity of painful groin related injuries. Through the absorption of radiant energy, tissues are safely and gently heated - increasing blood flow within the treated area. Your body’s natural response to this increased temperature is to try to maintain a condition of homeostasis — a balanced environment or state of equilibrium throughout the body. To do this, your body responds with a rapid increase in blood flow to the area (this is known as vasodilation), increasing the supply of nutrients to injured cells and flushing out toxins (including lactic acid, commonly found in trigger points) to promote healing. Our Thermotex Platinum Pain Relief Device provides effective, non-invasive, non-addictive pain relief with no side effects.

Our Cold Compression Wraps are recommended as the top wrap by Leading Health Institutes like, Cleveland Clinic, several professional sports organizations, and countless medical professionals. That's why we sell them, because they are the best. We have noticed over time that our customers are so fond of our cold wraps that they are frequently coming back and ordering a second one - this way they can heat or cool one while wearing the other. The wraps are becoming very popular with baseball and soccer trainers, and the wraps can be conveniently stored in a cooler for quick application on the field when needed.

Ultrasound therapy is also a helpful tool for pain prevention of groin injuries, and having a portable ultrasound device at home can be a powerful and convenient treatment tool. If you have symptoms or are recovering from a groin injury, using ultrasound on a regular basis before your activity or throughout the day will help relax your muscles, tendons and tissues, diminish pain and inflammation, soften scar tissue and contribute greatly to the healing of your injury.

If you suffer from pain after certain activities or movements use ultrasound therapy when you complete the activity and then rest. Limit the application of ultrasound to a couple of treatments per day (the manual will recommend treatment frequency depending upon the injury). In between ultrasound treatments, maximize your pain relief and injury recovery by using the Thermotex Personal Therapy System. When you're on the go, and not near an electrical outlet, take advantage of the "were anywhere" concept of our hot/cold wraps - the highest rated wraps in the industry. Proven Performance, Proven Relief - only found at MendMeShop.com. If you have been given a treatment plan by your health professional, make sure you adhere to it to ensure pain free living. In general, people who are committed to their therapies and exercises will have the best medical outcomes.