Muscles

Pectineus

Adducts and flexes the hip.

Referred pain map

Pectineus — trigger point in the deep groin just below the inguinal ligament with referred pain to the front of the hip and upper medial thigh; often mistaken for hip-joint or adductor-longus pain.

Overview

Adducts and flexes the hip. Trigger points here are common in everyday and athletic populations and frequently contribute to the referred pain patterns described below.

Trigger point locations

Deep groin between adductor longus and psoas.

Referred pain pattern

Deep groin pain at the front of the hip.

Palpation & testing

Palpate the muscle belly along its accessible course. Reproduction of the patient's familiar pain on palpation supports involvement.

Common causes

Soccer, sprinting, sudden direction changes.

Self-care & clinical treatment

Adductor stretches, hip control. Clinically: needling by trained clinicians (femoral neurovascular bundle).

Symptoms commonly linked

Groin pain
Hip pain
Anterior hip/groin pain

References

• Travell & Simons — Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction