Adductor Surgery

Adductor Tenotomy Surgery

Your adductors are a group of muscles located on the inside of your femur (thigh bone) that move your leg inward across your body. They originate from the pubic bone at the lower part of your pelvis, connecting both sides at the front. From there, the adductor muscles run down the inside of your leg and insert at various points along the femur and tibia. The adductor muscles consist of:

  • Adductor longus
  • Adductor brevis
  • Adductor magnus
  • Pectineus
  • Gracilis

Adductor tenotomy, or surgical release, is performed on adductor muscles that are prone to recurrent tears or develop contractures that increase tension on the pelvis. The procedure involves cutting the tendon away from the bone, which relieves stress on the pubic bone and helps reduce associated pain and disability. Excessive tension in the adductors can alter hip mechanics, create muscular imbalances, and increase the likelihood of hernia formation—hence, hernia repair is often carried out at the same time. In some cases, the adductors can avulse (tear away from the bone) at their origin, requiring surgical reattachment. This can occur due to factors such as direct trauma or chronic adductor tendinitis.

Physiotherapy prior to Adductor Tenotomy Surgery

Physiotherapy prior to adductor tenotomy surgery can help manage your symptoms and enable you to function at your best. It also provides an optimal foundation for post-surgical rehabilitation by preventing associated injuries and preparing your body for recovery, which can help reduce your overall rehab period. At acephysiosports.com, we provide thorough assessments of your lower limb and trunk to identify deficiencies and weaknesses. Based on this, we develop a comprehensive, individualised rehabilitation programme tailored to your specific problem areas and personal goals.

  • Strengthening exercises targeting the adductors, core, and surrounding muscles
  • Stretching exercises to improve flexibility and reduce tension
  • Manual therapy to address joint or soft tissue restrictions
  • Functional training to optimise movement patterns
  • Education on activity modification and injury prevention
  • Prehabilitation exercises to prepare the body for surgery

Symptoms following Adductor Tenotomy Surgery

Following adductor tenotomy you will commonly experience symptoms such as:

  • Pain around the groin and inner thigh
  • Swelling or bruising at the surgical site
  • Stiffness and reduced range of motion in the hip and leg
  • Weakness in the adductor muscles
  • Difficulty walking, running, or performing normal daily activities
  • Muscle imbalances affecting surrounding areas such as the core or glutes
  • Fatigue or discomfort during movement and exercise

Physiotherapy following Adductor Tenotomy Surgery

Following adductor tenotomy, your movement will be limited to protect the repair and optimise recovery. Physiotherapy with acephysiosports.com will begin with a detailed assessment, followed by the development of a comprehensive rehabilitation programme tailored to your personal needs and goals. Core stability training plays a crucial role in preventing further injuries, acting as the foundation for movement. It provides stability and helps absorb the tensile forces exerted through your muscles during activities, making it an integral part of your rehabilitation.

Week 1

Initial treatment following adductor tenotomy will focus on managing acute post-operative symptoms, controlling swelling, and retraining core stability. Your progress will be guided by pain levels and the surgical protocol followed.

  • Pain management techniques (ice, gentle mobilisation, and positioning)
  • Swelling reduction strategies (compression, elevation, and gentle movement)
  • Core stability exercises to support recovery and protect the repair
  • Gentle range-of-motion exercises to maintain hip and leg mobility
  • Education on safe movement and activity modification
  • Monitoring progress and adapting exercises according to surgical protocol and pain levels

Week 2

After one week of physiotherapy, acephysiosports.com will advance your rehabilitation to include more functional-based activities that place a higher demand on your muscles. The focus will be on preventing secondary injuries and integrating intermediate strength work.

  • Progressive strengthening exercises for the adductors, hip, and core
  • Functional movement training (e.g., sit-to-stand, step-ups)
  • Balance and proprioception exercises to improve stability
  • Gradual introduction of controlled loading activities
  • Stretching and flexibility exercises to maintain mobility
  • Monitoring technique to prevent compensatory movement patterns

Week 3

acephysiosports.com will continue to adapt your physiotherapy programme based on your specific needs and personal progress. This stage will focus on further strengthening as well as advanced core stability exercises to prevent re-injury.

  • Advanced strengthening exercises for adductors, hip, and surrounding muscles
  • High-level core stability and functional training
  • Plyometric or dynamic movement exercises where appropriate
  • Sport-specific or activity-specific drills to restore performance
  • Continued flexibility and mobility work
  • Monitoring and correcting movement patterns to reduce the risk of future injury

Week 4+

From week 4, your rehabilitation will be intensified to support a timely return to sporting and functional activities. Sport-specific training will be integrated along with high-level adductor and core stability exercises. While recovery can be as early as 5 weeks, the timeline may be extended depending on the extent of the surgery and your individual rehabilitation progress.

  • High-intensity strengthening exercises for adductors, hip, and core
  • Sport-specific drills tailored to your activity or sport
  • Advanced balance, agility, and proprioception training
  • Plyometric and dynamic movement exercises
  • Continued mobility and flexibility exercises
  • Monitoring and optimisation of movement patterns to prevent re-injury

Summary

Adductor tenotomy is a surgical procedure performed when your adductor muscles become contracted and shortened, increasing tension in the muscle and on the bone, which cannot be relieved through conservative methods. During the procedure, your adductor tendon is released through excision at its insertion on the pubic bone, alleviating tension and reducing pain. Following surgery, physiotherapy plays a crucial role in rehabilitation, helping to restore movement, strength, control, function, and muscle integrity. acephysiosports.com will provide a thorough assessment and a comprehensive, individualised rehabilitation programme to ensure an effective return to your previous level of activity. Call acephysiosports.com now on +65 81535374 for more information, or to book an appointment, please contact us.

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