Groin/adductor discomfort from squatting

telemachus

Although i've been lifting for a while on and off i've only recently gotten access to a squat rack so in the last month i've been squatting essentially for the first time and as a result i'm fairly clueless (weight on the bar is some way below my bench :P ) .

Over time i seem to be building some discomfort in my adductor/top of the hip/thigh area right at the join with the waist, it's doesn't feel like standard doms and flares up with certain types of movement, raising my leg while keeping it straight, or even something like putting my feet up while sitting down. I realise with any major compound exercise there's going to be a few aches and pains in your weaker areas being taxed but i'm just looking to see if anyone has any idea if it's particularily symptomatic of an error in form, or if ishould just push through it and strengthen the area?

Transform

Sounds like you have pulled your adductors from the squatting - take a week or two off squatting (do straight leg deadlifts, step ups instead for leg work), stretch adductors lots and get a massage or use foam roll to loosen them out.

would be good to get someone to check out your squat technique also just to make sure thats right before you start again - where do you live? What does your whole program look like?

telemachus

Thanks for the suggestions, i've been trying to stretch the area daily wether i'm lifting or not and it does help ease it a little from twingeing through the day but tends to come straight back after squatting.

After faffing about a bit previously (bench/curl overload, I admit it ) I decided to settle on something simple based around the main lifts so now I can squat i've been trying Starting Strength with 3x5 reps and alternating squats/bench/deadlift with squats/press/bent over row (yet to attempt the power clean). I've only been squatting a month now so the weight is well behind everything else at 70kg.

Rippetoe reccomends a fairly wide squat with the feet pointed outwards and the knees pushed right out in-line with them, could the strain on the adductors combined with my lack of training and weakness in the area have resulted in this?

kevpants

I'd say you're taking the wide stance thing too literally and over-reaching your hips. Hard to tell without seeing it though.