Inflammation of the iliopsoas muscle

What is the Illiopsoas muscle?
The iliopsoas muscle is a very strong muscle that lifts the knee up. It starts at the lower back and inserts into the thigh bone (femur). This muscle can become inflammed if you over do the situps especially with a weight behind your neck, or do lots of up hill running. Behind the muscle is a bursa that can become inflammed on it's own or along with the tendon. 


Iliopsoas muscle

Symptoms include:
Pain in the groin when you lift your knee up to your chest particularly against resistance. A sensation of tightness and swelling in the groin - especially if the bursa is involved. You might enter a cycle of pain where the pain disappears during training only to recur worse after exercise has stopped.

What can the athlete do?
Rest until there is no pain. Apply heat in the form of a hot water bottle and use a heat retainer. Stretch the hip flexor muscles. See a sports injury professional who can advise on rehabilitation and strengthening.

What can a sports injury specialist or doctor do?
Prescribe anti-inflammatory medication e.g. ibuprofen. Use ultrasound. Prescribe a rehabilitation and stretching programme. Give a steroid injection.

If you have pain in the groin you must rest immediately or it could develop into a chronic condition that is very difficult to treat.

Source: Sports Injury Clinic