Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsAnatomyFunctionPectineus Pain CausesSymptomsWhen to See a DoctorDiagnosisTreatmentPrevention
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Anatomy
Function
Pectineus Pain Causes
Symptoms
When to See a Doctor
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prevention
The pectineus muscle is a flat, quadrangular muscle in the groin and upper thigh. Part of the adductor muscle group, you use the pectineus to flex your hip and move your leg toward your body.
Pectineus pain can be felt in your groin, inner thigh, or front top of your thigh. The pain can vary from a dull ache that gradually worsens to a sudden, sharp pain upon injury. The most common cause of pectineus pain is a strained or pulled muscle.
Activities like running, skating, exercising with tired muscles, or even sitting with your legs crossed for too long can injure the pectineus. Treatment for pectineus injuries includes rest, ice, physical therapy, and time.
This article discusses pectineus pain. It explains the anatomy of the upper thigh and groin muscles, common causes of pectineus pain, and how to keep your groin muscles healthy.
Where Is the Pectineus Muscle Located?
The pectineus originates from the pectineal line of thepubic bone, also known as the pectin pubis. It continues downward and in a posterolateral direction (behind and to the side) and inserts into the pectineal line of thefemur(thigh bone).
The pectineus muscle is a hip adductor, one of a group of five large muscles on the medial (middle) thigh that adduct the leg. It is the most anterior (closest to the front) of the hip adductors.
The other hip adductors include:
What Does the Pectineus Muscle Do?
The main functions of the pectineus muscle are flexion, adduction, and external rotation of the hip. The pectineus muscle both flexes and adducts the thigh at the hip joint when it contracts.
Adductionis the movement of a limb or other part toward the midline of the body or toward another part.
Flexiondecreases the angle between the bones (bending the joint) and brings the thigh forward and upward to flex at the hip joint.
Flexion can go as far as the thigh to a 45-degree angle to the hip joint. At that point, the angulation of the fibers allows the contracted muscle fibers to pull the thigh toward the midline, producingthigh adduction.
What Causes Pectineous Pain?
Pectineus muscle injuries occur from moving the leg too far to the side or front of the body. This can be due to overstretching the muscle or rapid movements.
Activities associated with pectineus injuries include the following:
Risk Factors for Pectineus InjuriesAgeDecreased range of motionImproper conditioning in athletesPrevious hip or groin injuryWeak adductors
Risk Factors for Pectineus Injuries
AgeDecreased range of motionImproper conditioning in athletesPrevious hip or groin injuryWeak adductors
Groin Strain
The most common cause of pectineus pain is a groin strain orgroin pull. An injury to the muscles of the inner thigh, it occurs when the muscle fibers become damaged or torn.
There are three degrees of groin strains:
A groin strain can affect theprimary hip flexor muscles, the hip adductor muscles, or a combination of the two.
Less Common Causes
What Does Pectineous Pain Feel Like?
The most common symptoms of an injured pectineus muscle are:
A groin strain can cause pain in the front hip area when closing your legs or raising your knee. You may hear a pop or snap when the injury occurs. Pain can range from mild to severe.
The level of pain and your ability to use your leg will vary depending on the degree of strain:
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Even though you may want to care for the injury yourself, seek medical attention immediately if:
Evaluating Pectineus Pain
Imaging tests, such asmagnetic resonance imaging (MRI)or musculoskeletal ultrasound, are sometimes used to identify the area and extent of the injury. These tests show:
An injured pectineus muscle can take time to heal. A mild to moderate groin strain can take three weeks to six weeks of rest or more to heal. A complete tear could require surgery (which is rare) and up to a three-month recovery period.
Initial Treatment
Initially, a pain management plan will usually include acetaminophen andnon-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications.
Avoid movements that might cause further injury, like running and jumping, and minimize activities that use the pectineus muscle, like walking and crossing your legs.
Ice reduces swelling and pain. Put ice or a cold pack on the injured area for 10 to 20 minutes at a time every one to two hours for three days or until the swelling is relieved. Put a thin cloth between the ice and your skin for protection.
Once the swelling goes down after the first few days, apply heat. Use a warm water bottle, a heating pad set on low, or a warm cloth to apply heat to your groin area. Do not go to sleep with a heating pad on your skin, as it can cause burns.
R.I.C.E. Treatment for Acute Musculoskeletal Injury
Physical Therapy
After the initial healing period, your healthcare provider may refer you to physical therapy. PT exercises focus on:
Physical therapy can also include other treatments such as therapeutic ultrasound, electronic muscle stimulation, massage, and hands-on manipulation of the tissue.
An active training program directed at strength and conditioning of muscles of the pelvis and the adductor muscles is very effective at treating patients with long-standing, adductor-related groin pain.
Returning to ActivityMost athletes with adductor strains can return to their sport with minimal pain and normal function following physical therapy.
Returning to Activity
Most athletes with adductor strains can return to their sport with minimal pain and normal function following physical therapy.
Surgery
Most pectineus muscle injuries heal on their own. In rare cases, surgery may be needed to repair a torn groin muscle.
After surgery, physical therapy is typically needed to restore the full functioning of the hip.
Inner-Thigh Stretches to Improve Groin Flexibility
Summary
The pectineus muscles run from the pubic bone to the top of the inner thigh, an area known as the groin. It is part of the hip adductor muscle group that moves your
Most pectineus injuries heal on their own in time. To ease discomfort at home, ice and rest the injured area. If you have severe pain, numbness, or tingling or cannot bear weight on the leg, see your healthcare provider.
Groin Pain: Causes and How to Get Rid of It
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Physiopedia.Pectineus muscle.Wobser AM, Adkins Z, Wobser RW.Anatomy, abdomen and pelvis, bones (ilium, ischium, and pubis). StatPearls.Anatomy Next.Pectineus.Rice University.Types of body movements. Anatomy and Physiology, Chapter 9.Kiel J, Kaiser K.Adductor strain. StatPearls.Harford HealthCare Hartford Hospital.Groin strain (pull).Kaiser Permanente.Groin strain: Care instructions.Bharam S, Feghhi DP, Porter DA, Bhagat PV.Proximal adductor avulsion injuries: Outcomes of surgical reattachment in athletes.Orthop J Sports Med. 2018;6(7):2325967118784898. doi:10.1177/2325967118784898
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Physiopedia.Pectineus muscle.Wobser AM, Adkins Z, Wobser RW.Anatomy, abdomen and pelvis, bones (ilium, ischium, and pubis). StatPearls.Anatomy Next.Pectineus.Rice University.Types of body movements. Anatomy and Physiology, Chapter 9.Kiel J, Kaiser K.Adductor strain. StatPearls.Harford HealthCare Hartford Hospital.Groin strain (pull).Kaiser Permanente.Groin strain: Care instructions.Bharam S, Feghhi DP, Porter DA, Bhagat PV.Proximal adductor avulsion injuries: Outcomes of surgical reattachment in athletes.Orthop J Sports Med. 2018;6(7):2325967118784898. doi:10.1177/2325967118784898
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Physiopedia.Pectineus muscle.Wobser AM, Adkins Z, Wobser RW.Anatomy, abdomen and pelvis, bones (ilium, ischium, and pubis). StatPearls.Anatomy Next.Pectineus.Rice University.Types of body movements. Anatomy and Physiology, Chapter 9.Kiel J, Kaiser K.Adductor strain. StatPearls.Harford HealthCare Hartford Hospital.Groin strain (pull).Kaiser Permanente.Groin strain: Care instructions.Bharam S, Feghhi DP, Porter DA, Bhagat PV.Proximal adductor avulsion injuries: Outcomes of surgical reattachment in athletes.Orthop J Sports Med. 2018;6(7):2325967118784898. doi:10.1177/2325967118784898
Physiopedia.Pectineus muscle.
Wobser AM, Adkins Z, Wobser RW.Anatomy, abdomen and pelvis, bones (ilium, ischium, and pubis). StatPearls.
Anatomy Next.Pectineus.
Rice University.Types of body movements. Anatomy and Physiology, Chapter 9.
Kiel J, Kaiser K.Adductor strain. StatPearls.
Harford HealthCare Hartford Hospital.Groin strain (pull).
Kaiser Permanente.Groin strain: Care instructions.
Bharam S, Feghhi DP, Porter DA, Bhagat PV.Proximal adductor avulsion injuries: Outcomes of surgical reattachment in athletes.Orthop J Sports Med. 2018;6(7):2325967118784898. doi:10.1177/2325967118784898
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