7/10/17

Hip Adductors and Massage

The hip adductors are a group of muscles covering the the inside of the upper leg. Their primary function is to squeeze the thighs together and flex the legs at the hip. Adductor longus, adductor brevis, adductor magnus, pectineus, and gracilis can all be massaged without contacting the genitals, but they are located in a sensitive area, so I prefer to speak with you before working in this area. They are easily accessed with you lying on your back or on your side.

The origin attachments of the adductors lie along the pubic bone and ischial tuberosity, and the insertions in various places on the femur. The gracilis crosses the knee and inserts on the tibia.

Trigger points in adductor longus and adductor brevis may refer pain deep into the groin as well as distally to the knee and beyond. Pectineus trigger points may cause pain in the crease where the leg joins the torso and may feel like a deep ache in the hip joint. Gracilis may cause pain along its pathway on the inner leg, and trigger points in adductor magnus may refer pain internally to the pubic bone, vagina, rectum, bladder, or from the groin to the knee.

During work on the adductors, the client’s genitals can be completely draped while still providing access to their tendinous attachments. But because of the sensitivity of the area, work begins slowly and gently before progressing to deeper manipulation and stretching. So don’t grin and bear it; you don’t have to tolerate groin and inner leg pain, hoping it will just go away. Speak to me honestly about what you’re experiencing and we can address the area in a safe and comfortable manner to effectively treat such pain.