You rest, wait, and hope the pain fades. But the truth is, rest alone doesn’t heal a groin muscle strain.
That nagging ache or sharp pull needs more than time off. Without targeted movement, scar tissue builds, muscles weaken, and you end up stuck in a cycle of pain.
If you’ve been babying your groin muscle and still can’t walk or twist comfortably, you’re not alone. This injury often lingers not because it’s serious—but because it’s misunderstood.
Let’s talk about what actually helps a strained groin muscle recover:
- Active recovery that rebuilds strength and flexibility
- Gentle mobility work to restore range
- Therapy that targets the exact structures involved
You can absolutely get back to full strength. But you need a plan, not just patience.

Managing Groin Strains with Physical Therapy
Groin strains can stop you in your tracks—literally. Whether it happens during a pick-up soccer game at Oak Brook Park District or in a training session leading up to the Chicago Triathlon, groin pain is a red flag that your body needs more than rest.
We use sports physical therapy to not only treat the immediate strain but also reduce the risk of future injury.
Understanding What You’re Dealing With
The groin area involves six adductor muscles that connect the pelvis to the inner thigh. These muscles stabilize your hip joint and power quick lateral movement.
Groin strains happen when:
- You sprint, pivot, or stretch too far during activity
- The adductor or hip flexor muscles aren’t properly warmed up
- Core stability is weak, causing overload in the groin muscles
Symptoms include:
- Sudden pain in the groin or inner thigh
- Swelling or bruising near the pelvis
- Trouble walking or crossing your legs
- Sharp or intense pain when you contract the adductors
An accurate diagnosis matters. Imaging tests like X-rays or MRIs may be needed to rule out a tear, fracture, or sports hernia.
Groin pain doesn’t have to linger. With the right approach, you can move better than before and stay ahead of future injury.
Request an appointment at RecoverRx Physical Therapy by calling 331-253-2426. Let’s get you back to the sport and lifestyle you love.

Why Rest Isn’t Enough
Rest is a starting point, not a solution. Without targeted rehab, scar tissue can stiffen the injured muscle and limit movement.
Sports physical therapy helps you:
- Improve blood flow and reduce fluid buildup
- Restore flexibility in the hip flexors and adductors
- Strengthen surrounding muscles like the glutes and abdominal muscles
- Retrain your body for symmetry and control
For severe cases or partial tears, delaying treatment increases the risk of further injury. Mild strains heal faster with a structured plan. Severe strains require more precise loading strategies to protect the musculotendinous junction.
Active Recovery You Can Trust
We guide athletes of all levels through phase-based recovery. In the early phase, we manage inflammation and protect the injured area with gentle movement and isometric contractions.
As healing progresses, we add:
- Dynamic stretches for the hip adductors and inner thigh
- Strength training for the core, glutes, and hip stabilizers
- Agility drills that mimic your sport’s patterns
Whether you’re prepping for the Turkey Trot in Naperville or gearing up for spring soccer leagues in DuPage County, your rehab should reflect your sport’s demands.

Preventing the Next Setback
Once you’re pain-free, your body still isn’t ready to play sports at full speed unless we’ve addressed what caused the strain. That’s why we test for:
- Hip mobility and strength asymmetries
- Core engagement during movement
- Stability through the pelvis under stress
By rebuilding the injured muscle and restoring control across the lower body, you lower the chance of another strain. You also reduce your risk for other conditions like hip labral tears or tendon overuse.
Groin pain can feel sharp, frustrating, or even defeating. But when we treat it like a performance issue—not just an injury—you recover stronger and smarter.
Let’s get you back to what you love, without fear of pain or re-injury.
Find Answers With RecoverRx Performance Physical Therapy
At RecoverRx PT, we focus on real results that help you move better, feel stronger, and return to your sport with confidence.
Whether your groin strain started with a hard sprint or crept in over time, we build a plan that gets you out of pain and back into motion.
Personalized, Sport-Specific Care
We don’t believe in generic rehab plans. Your injury, goals, and sport all shape your treatment.
We start with:
- A full-body assessment that identifies how your core, hips, and adductors work together
- A clear diagnosis using movement screens and, when needed, referrals for imaging
- A discussion about your sport, training load, and how your symptoms affect daily life
From there, we design a path forward that matches the intensity of your sport and your timeline for return.
Hands-On Techniques With a Purpose
Every session includes skilled interventions that target the injured muscle and surrounding areas. We combine manual therapy with guided exercise to ease pain and restore movement.
Our treatment options may include:
- Dry needling to release deep muscle tension
- Soft tissue mobilization to improve blood flow and reduce swelling
- Joint mobilization to address stiffness in the hip or pelvis
- Core and hip strengthening to build stability and power
Each step is focused on performance, not just healing. If you’re a runner, lifter, or team athlete, your rehab reflects that.

Your Comeback, Rebuilt with Confidence
You’re not just rehabbing an injured muscle. You’re rebuilding your ability to move with strength, trust, and control.
Our performance PT team helps you:
- Retrain patterns that protect against reinjury
- Build strength in the six groin muscles and surrounding stabilizers
- Improve coordination between your core and legs
- Return to sport with drills that match your demands
Groin pain doesn’t have to linger. With the right approach, you can move better than before and stay ahead of future injury.
Request an appointment at RecoverRx Physical Therapy by calling 331-253-2426. Let’s get you back to the sport and lifestyle you love.