Carlos runs a lot but has developed groin & glute pain, the Guru explains it’s essential to control movement
April 27, 2015
Hi.
I have been running for 5-6 years doing 18-20 miles per week with no significant problems until about 6 months ago. I have done a full marathon, two half marathons and several 5 and 10k’s.
Some six months ago, while training for a marathon, I gradually developed  pain in the groin and glute of my right leg. The pain in the glute is dull and achy and the glute feels stiff. The pain in the groin is more of a sharp pain and is stronger when I lift my leg while climbing stairs, running or stretching. It gets very sharp if I lift my leg and put resistance with my hands or anything else.
I can still run but I do it with pain and it gets harder and harder to lift the right leg after every additional mile. I have tried pain medication (naproxen, relafen, ibuprofen), stretching, physical therapy and yoga but nothing seems to make it better.
May I have your opinion and recommendations?
Carlos
April 27, 2015
Back to basics.
I’m not sure this is a muscular problem despite feeling in the muscle – so stretching, strengthening and prodding the muscle, along with pill popping won’t help (as you’ve discovered).
Instead I think your gluts and groin muscles have stiffened up to protect either your lumbar spine or hip. You’ve moving too much and can’t control that movement – so the muscles act like guy rope and step in. Unless you can control the movement in your lower back by knowing what is causing the excessive movement (normally a relatively tight thoracic spine) I’m not sure your progress too much.
Change the cause and I’m sure your symptoms will get better.
The Guru
Six Physio
Carlos asked the Guru for some more information:
Thank you very much for your reply. Your opinion makes a lot of sense. What do you suggest for purposes of identifying and controlling the excessive movement in my lower back.
Running is something I enjoy a lot and would not want to give it up because of this.
The Guru replied:
I don’t think that the running is the issue, but I do think the way you run is.
At a punt you may well be an over strider, which causes excessive amounts of lumbar spine rotation – and the muscles stiffen to protect this etc.
Running analysis wouldn’t go amiss as would a good Pilates and or stability program. When your nailing this add in some decent S&C work too
