Groin Massage

[That[[drummer]]Girl]

I have a new client (male) that says he has constant groin pain. He has not been to the doctor-my first suggestion-he does stretches and does not get any relief. 2nd suggestion was icing after a work out. I need a little help here. What is the safest way to provide relief for him? New situation for me!

 

[e l i z a ?]

He may have a condition, such as a kidney stone,hernia,
or a groin pull (muscle tear). Google it, you'll find several medical sites on this. Did he say how long he's had it & how it started ? Did this come on gradually or all at once (following a specific event)? Does it get better or worse ?

He may also have something else going on, possible infection in the urinary tract, (which can travel into the kidney and cause deeper problems) or he may have an
STD, any or all of which require a doctors attention. They
would not be in your scope of practice. If in fact it is a groin injury, some styles of yoga may be helpful for him to look into. It all depends on what he is willing to do for himself, in other words it is his responsibility to make his own choices & follow through on them.

What is he asking you to do for him ? If he's just looking for you to work there constantly than we are talking about a whole other issue here. He may be hoping you'll provide
him with "additional services" if you get my drift. In which case your job is to keep your boundaries strong, & inform him he has find somewhere else to have that "need" met.

 

[spider]

I think I would make a copy (or more) of a good picture/drawing of all the muscles that cross or attach in the area, demonstrate some massage techniques on his arm and tell him to try self massage on those muscles, especially at the origins & insertions.

That would be a "safe" way to let him know you take his concern seriously, and still keep yourself safe and totally above any possibility of allegations. If he has a serious concern, which he probably does or he would have given off creepy vibes that I'm not seeing reflected in your post, he will be grateful for the help, study the pictures and get to work.

Ice? :shock: I'd be much too wimpy for that!!!

 

[Chelcie]

After he's seen the doc to rule out CIs mentioned above and get a proper diagnosis, I'd be treating him right away.

Onset could give a clue in the meantime. For instance, an adductor tear is a very common hockey injury (said the Canadian, thus representing all those cultural stereotypes, eh?) If he knows the moment it happened, it's probably a tear. If he woke up with it, that may require more investigation.

A referral to a physio or male therapist if the creep factor is really an issue, which it sounds like it isn't at all. In which case, frictions, triggerpoint work and massage. (With that much pain, ice is his friend, BTW.)

If there is an area that's too close to where you don't want to be, you can always work on it indirectly (such as with PNF techniques.)

Also, to be more specific here, I never call it a groin pull. That's a genitalia euphenism. I'd say inner thigh strain/injury or adductor tear. The client will feel better about that terminology, too.

Otherwise, of course, "if in doubt, RO."

 

[Real Reds the world power]

Thanks gang. I found out today he has had this pain for 2 yrs. I think it's time he gets to the doctor!! Then I will go from there!

 

[john Galt]

Osteitis Pubis maybe? Stretching will aggravate, and massage does not do much either!

 

[`??????]

groin pull?

I have a long-time male client who also has long-term groin pain. He is pretty sure the original cause was when a horse fell with him with his leg caught underneath. The pain was originally more in the hip rotatores and adductors, but with a lot of work, I have worked that out, mostly. Now the pain seems to be in the muscle attatchments on the pubic bone and the ligaments between the pubic bone and the ischial tuberosities ( and possibly the coccyx), and the inguinal ligament. I've had some success with local-distal acupressure points, and as I got braver, some success with cross-fiber-friction and pressure point work in the ligaments. This is VERY painful work, but seems to give him relief for up to 3 weeks. This client is also a massage therapist, so we both know exactly what we are there for, no "creep factor", thank goodness. I wouldn't do such sensitive work on just anybody! PS: I work through the sheet, less embarrassing and less likely to pinch tender skin!

 

[Aporia]

I have chronic groin pain that is referred from two areas, the first being psoas the second being my glutes. It is from a triathalon training regime last year and it has ever completely gone away.

I am always a bit wary of male clients that come in with groin pain, but most of the time it is real. I have them wrap the sheet under and around their leg to make a tight fit into the groin and then I flex their knee laterally outward while they pull on the sheet to keep it tight. I tend to use more compression and kneading in these areas than deep cff or anything that will cause them to tighten up. To assess the psoas you can have them raise their knee while you palpate for the muscle in the abdomen but be gentle, even TPS in this area need to be treated gently, you could be pushing into the intestines if you are in the wrong spot, so always use caution and don't go crazy with the pressure. As far as the glutes go, look especially along the line of the PSIS and into glute minimus. You may find a tp there too.

I would go with your gut and require an MD visit first, since it has been two years. You could alternatively require a chiro visit and then have the chiro send a note as to their findings and where they would like you to work.