Boxing, martial arts and thigh pain: advice and analysis
Pain in the thigh fold, which is also called the inguinal fold, is common in sports such as French boxing, Muay Thai, taekwondo, karate, etc. The tendons are already being tested. But are they alone responsible for the pain this area feels?
Mathematical Gesture Privacy and Interpretations
Sports that require a quick leg lift in height require the adductor muscles and hamstrings. The tendons of the muscle allow them to be attached to the bone.
Its structure is made of elastic fibers that are stretchable to a certain extent. When these fibers are subjected to significant mechanical stresses, they can be damaged (small cracks, loss of elastic ability). This is called tendinopathy.
In French boxing, Muay Thai, taekwondo, karate and other sports gestures cause great and brutal stretching of the tendon structures. Consequently, affected tendons can become inflamed and painful.
Like any other part of the body, the adductors and hamstrings have the ability to adapt. They can gradually get used to sudden and frequent stretching. Be progressive in your training!
Also, contractile muscle fibers (which have the ability to shorten) can also be damaged. More specifically, it is the attachment of these fibers to the muscle envelope that can break. We then talk about LMA (Musculo-Aponeurotic lesion) or in general about muscle lesions (breakdown, elongation, rupture, etc.).
Possible causes of thigh pain
Pain in the groin fold can be explained by various reasons.
Tendinopathy of one or more tendons of the adductor muscle. We just talked about it above.
More or less significant muscle lesion. The pain will then be located just below the groin. We also talked about that above.
These first two reasons are most common in sports like French boxing, Muay Thai, Taekwondo, Karate, etc.
However, groin pain can also be caused by:
Synovial bursitis. The synovial bursa is a pocket of fatty fluid, like a natural lubricant. Due to frequent rubbing, it can become inflamed and cause pain. An MRI will confirm this hypothesis.
cheilitis The labrum is a ring-shaped fibrous cartilage located at the level of the joint. It can be compared to the meniscus of the knee. Once again, an MRI will confirm this hypothesis.
Articular dysfunction between the head of the femur and the "hollow" of the pelvis: the acetabulum. Mechanically, the hip joint corresponds to a ball (the head of the femur) moving in a hollow hemisphere (the acetabulum). The imbalance of tensions around this system could explain the appearance of excessive friction at the joint level. The pain, in this case, will be felt only with certain movements (while squatting, while sitting on the floor with both legs on the same side, etc.).
Pain associated with radiating the femoral nerve. This can be explained, among other things, by a defect in the lower back. In this case, the pain often tends to go down the groin, spreading along the nerve, to the inner part of the knee.
Inguinal hernia, which corresponds to the exit of a small ball of viscera through the abdominal wall.
If in doubt, do not hesitate to consult a specialist who will direct you to the correct examinations and the correct diagnosis.
Example of specific exercises on the adductor tendons