Adductor Brevis

Pointer Plus The Pointer Plus is an easy to use trigger point (TP) locator which incorporates a push button stimulation feature to immediately treat Trigger point pain.

The Adductor Brevis is a muscle of the medial thigh.

Anatomical Attachments:

• Origin: Attaches to the anterior lateral aspect of the inferior ramus of the pubis.
• Insertion: Attaches to the linea aspera above the adductor longus.

Action: Adducts, flexes and laterally rotates the thigh.

Synergist:

• Prime Movers: Iliopsoas, Pectineus, Tensor fasciae latae, Sartorius.
• Accessory Movers: Adductor longus and magnus (anterior part), Gracilis, Gluteus minimus.

Antagonist: Gluteus maximus, Adductor magnus (posterior part).

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Nerve Supply: Obturator Nerve (L2, L3, L4).

Vascular supply: Medial femoral circumflex and obturator arteries.

• Primary: Travell and Simons make no distinction in the TrPs located in the Adductor longus and brevis, the pain is experienced proximally in the genitalia and the superior medial aspect of the thigh to the inguinal region. Distally, the pain is experienced slightly superior and medial to the knee in the vicinity of Hunter’s canal, and spills over to the anterior superior aspect of the tibia.
• Satellite or associated triggers: Adductor Magnus, Pectineus and Vastus Medius.

Authors' note: When hypertonicity is noted with the adductors, the practitioner should also examine the Obturator externus and the Piriformis, frequently; there is a correlation of dysfunction between the pelvic floor, hip rotators, and the adductor group.

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Trigger Point Signs and Symptoms: Muscle stiffness or restriction of abduction. Pain in the groin and the thigh during activity, the pain increases on weight bearing or sudden hip rotation. Usually the individual notices difficulty as it pertains to lateral rotation rather than adduction, however, when the legs are significantly abducted, this may initiate severe groin pain and possible hip locking. This additionally serves to demonstrate the relationship between the adductors, the pelvic floor muscles, and Iliopsoas.

Trigger Point Activating and Perpetuating Factors: Trauma, persistent emotional stress, sudden overload of the muscle (improper stretching), running on unleveled ground, sitting for long periods of time with hips flexed and legs crossed.

Differential Diagnosis: Neuralgia, Inguinal hernia, Prostate cancer, Prostatitis, Testicular cancer, articular dysfunction, (Segmental, Subluxation, Somatic dysfunction) L2 L3 or L4 radiculopathy, Floating Patella, Knee effusion, Patella fracture, Charcot’s arthropathy, Obturator or Genitofemoral nerve entrapment, Pubic stress fracture, Pubic stress symphysitis, Muscle strain (groin pull), Osteoarthritis, Lymphedema, Lymphatic cancer, Lymphogranuloma venereum, Coxa Plana, Polymyalgia rheumatica, Fibromyalgia, Eosinophilic fasciitis, Tetanus, Systemic infections or inflammation, Nutritional inadequacy, Metabolic imbalance, Toxicity, Side effects of medication.

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