Inflammation of the iliopsoas muscle (and bursa)

What is the Illiopsoas muscle?

The iliopsoas muscle is a very strong muscle that lifts the knee up. It starts at the lower back and inserts into the thigh bone (femur). This muscle can become inflamed if you over do the situps especially with a weight behind your neck, or do lots of up hill running. Behind the muscle is a bursa that can become inflamed on it's own or along with the tendon.

Symptoms of an inflammed iliopsoas muscle include:

• Groin pain when you lift your knee up to your chest particularly against resistance (video).
• A sensation of tightness and swelling in the groin - especially if the bursa is involved.
• You might enter a cycle of pain where the pain disappears during training only to recur worse after exercise has stopped.

What can the athlete do to prevent an inflammed iliopsoas muscle?

• Rest until there is no pain.
• Apply cold therapy
• Stretch the hip flexor muscles.
• See a sports injury professional who can advise on rehabilitation and strengthening.

What can a sports injury specialist or doctor do?

• Prescribe anti-inflammatory medication e.g. ibuprofen.
• Use ultrasound.
• Prescribe a rehabilitation and stretching programme.
• Give a steroid injection.

  If you have pain in the groin you must rest immediately or it could develop into a chronic condition that is very difficult to treat.