Adductor Injuries and Adductor Tendinopathy
Adductor problems are a common cause of pain in the inner thigh and groin. Symptoms may come on suddenly during sport or develop gradually over time. Patients often report pain with walking, running, changing direction, kicking, or getting in and out of a car. Some notice stiffness, weakness, or discomfort with prolonged standing or exercise, particularly when returning to sport.
Adductor injuries can affect the muscle belly or the tendon, most commonly the adductor longus near its attachment at the pubic bone. Identifying the exact source of pain is essential for effective treatment and long-term recovery.
Understanding Adductor Pain
Adductor conditions usually fall into two main patterns.
Acute adductor injury often occurs during sudden acceleration, sprinting, kicking, or change of direction. This may cause immediate groin pain, local tenderness, weakness, and difficulty continuing activity.
Adductor tendinopathy is a longer-standing condition affecting the tendon where it attaches to the pelvis. Pain typically develops gradually and may be felt deep in the groin, particularly with running, lunging, lateral movements, or resisted adduction. Symptoms can persist if the tendon continues to be overloaded without adequate recovery.
Both conditions benefit from early and accurate assessment to guide appropriate management.
Ultrasound Assessment at The London Ultrasound Clinic
Your appointment includes a detailed clinical assessment combined with a high-resolution diagnostic ultrasound scan. Ultrasound allows us to directly visualise the adductor muscles and tendons in real time, including the adductor longus tendon at its pubic origin.
Ultrasound assessment helps to identify muscle strains or tears, assess tendon thickening, degeneration, or inflammation, differentiate between acute injury and tendinopathy, and exclude other causes of groin pain. By clearly identifying the structure responsible for your symptoms, ultrasound allows us to make an accurate diagnosis and tailor your treatment plan with confidence, rather than relying on symptoms alone.
Conservative Management
Most adductor injuries and adductor tendon problems respond well to conservative care, which is always the first line of treatment.
Management typically includes activity modification and load management to reduce strain on the groin, progressive adductor and hip strengthening exercises tailored to your diagnosis, advice on movement patterns, training errors, and return to sport, and education and reassurance regarding recovery timelines.
This structured approach aims to reduce pain, restore strength and control, and support a safe return to everyday activities and sport.
Ultrasound-Guided Injection
If symptoms persist despite appropriate rehabilitation, an ultrasound-guided injection using steroid and local anaesthetic may be considered in selected cases, particularly for adductor tendinopathy. Ultrasound guidance ensures accurate placement around the affected tendon while avoiding nearby structures, helping to reduce inflammation and pain and allowing rehabilitation to progress more comfortably.
Injection treatment is used to support recovery and is always combined with an appropriate strengthening programme.
Recovery and Ongoing Care
Following assessment or treatment, you will be provided with a clear rehabilitation plan focusing on progressive loading, movement control, and gradual return to activity. Many patients notice steady improvement in pain, confidence, and functional movement over the following weeks as strength and tolerance improve.
Our aim is to deliver a premium, personalised service that combines expert ultrasound assessment, precise treatment, and practical rehabilitation advice, helping you recover fully and return to the activities that matter to you.
