Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Groin strains from hiking

GROIN STRAINS: Does anyone else have this problem? I slack off hiking somewhat in the winter, though I still hike about once a month in Bryce or Mt. Wilson or warm-weather hikes. I don't do any hikes in the winter like San Jacinton, San Gorgonio or Baldy because I'm not proficient at winter hiking.

Well, every year in June when I start getting back into 15+ mile day hikes with some significant elevation gain, I develop groin strains. Sometimes the pain is fairly severe going up, sometimes going down. The pain will move from my right groin to the left groin area, there's no rhyme or reason to it. The groin will be very tender for days after a hike.

I still exercise plenty in the winter, run 30 miles per week, lift weights, etc. but every June this groin injury comes back and plagues me, sometimes for a month or more. I am 39, maybe "old age" is catching up to me?

Does anyone else have this problem? Does anyone have any exercise suggestions I can do to rid myself of this pain in the neck nagging injury?

You'd best see a doctor, in sports medicine, if possible. Sounds like a muscle strain. Nothing much to do there except hot packs and Advil.

A companion reported the same thing once, and we, with all our first aid experience, could do nothing.

I'm having some neck and shoulder pains, once again, and for that my doc said try to relax more. Don't do anything to strain it further, and soak it in hot water during a nice bath. Only time is the cure, I think.

Scotty, I unfortunately started having the groin pains several years ago. I finally took the advice that 4Xsummit suggests, and found out I had a double hernia. After a hernia operation, the groin pains were completely gone. It's worth checking out, as I endured a lot of pain for years that I could have avoided by a simple medical examine.

Have a doctor check you for inguenal hernias. Happened to me also.

I agree with the hernia advice. In addition, you should add stretching to you exercise regime (after any hernias are repaired and healed). Weight lifting tends to tighten up muscles and tendons and some stretching would help give you greater range of motion.

Inguinal hernia is definitely worth ruling out. I had a scare this year myself. Mine turned out to be a pull that wouldn't heal because I was overtraining. I tried resting it but it kept coming back.

So with Sierra Season upon me I decided to do my normal Whitney routine and just deal with it. I managed to kick steps up the snow on the MR with the normal amount of pain...But when I woke the next morning the pain was gone and hasn't returned. I'm guessing I broke up some muscle adhesions or something but what a relief.

Spend the money and see your doc. Rest if he or she says so. Maybe even take up stretching a little while you're out...After that kick some butt!

Very slight possibility of a hernia.Most likely the adductor muscles are weak and out of shape.
I also run, but last week after a 31 mile hike my
groin(adductor muscle group) was sore.The mechanics of running and hiking are different,for example reaching up and pulling your body weight up a step,muscle is loaded and stretched at the same time, so puts more stress in the area.My 15 lb. pack added to the stress and discomfort, it went away in less than a week however.how long has it been for you?

Thanks to everyone who responded. I definitely have no hernia, but weak abductor muscles sounds like a fit. The motion of running and hiking is different. I never had a problem until I thru hiked the JMT in 2001 and on some days hiked 30 miles. At the end of it, I was plenty sore and my groin problems happened after that. I have visited sports physicians and I hate to say this, they have all been lousy (maybe it's because I'm stuck with Kaiser). They never know what the heck is the matter with me.

I won't stop hiking no matter what. I've done Whitney with pain every step and still did it and forgot about the pain within a few days. Hiking is life and I won't give it up. But I will start trying to strengthen those abductor muscles.