Subscribe to our newsletter. The adductors are fan-like muscles in the upper thigh that pull the legs together when they contract. The adductors attach the lower inner aspect of the pelvis to the inner aspect of the femur bone.
Some adductors attach as far down as the knee.
The adductors also help stabilize the hip joint. The most common cause of groin pain is a muscle strain. A strained adductor muscle causes localized pain in the inner thigh, or over the pubis. A severe tear is causes a sudden, acute pain and often occurs during a sudden change of direction while running. It may be accompanied by swelling and sometimes bruises.