This is part 4 of a series on groin pain. If you missed the beginning, go back to Part 1,

As a Neuromuscular Therapist in the Boston area, Trigger Points that refer pain to other locations in the body are of particular interest to me. There are several muscles to consider with Trigger Points that refer pain to the groin: Adductors longus and brevis, Adductor magnus, Pectineus, Sartorius and Gracilis, Tensor Fasciae Latae (TFL), Iliopsoas, and Quadriceps.

Trigger Point descriptions are taken from Travell and Simon’s Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction: The Trigger Point Manual, supplemented by my knowledge gained from 19 years of practicing Neuromuscular Therapy.

The three adductors and pectineus muscles are the most important cause of groin pain, both because of their location and their Trigger Points. Pain from ischemia (lack of oxygenated blood) can be significant causes of localized pain and cramping. Pains from Trigger Points are felt deep under the crease of the thigh, just above it and below in the inner thigh, and sometimes deep into the pelvis and crotch, both genitalia and rectum.

The next post will show illustrations of specific Trigger Point patterns.