Leao injury: what is adductor elongation and recovery times

Francesco Palma

07 May 2023

Milan Lazio leaving the field in the 11th minute, the pained grimace on the bench and then a post on social media in which he reassured the fans: Rafael Leao’s injury it made more than a few Milan fans go pale, especially when thinking about next Wednesday’s Euroderby against Inter. The instrumental examinations revealed a elongation of the adductor longus muscle of the right thigh about Leao: “It’s basically a mild strain. The adductor muscles, in particular the long adductor as in this case, are frequently involved in this type of injury, especially in multidirectional sports such as soccer” explains the Professor Alessandro Massédirector of Orthopedics at the Città della Salute Hospital in Turin and professor of Orthopedics and Traumatology at the University of Turin.

For Leao, an injury called adductor elongation: that’s what it is

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The injury occurred after a stretch by the Portuguese, who stopped immediately after feeling the pull: “Usually these lesions are treated with an initial phase of rest, as there is a frequent tendency to relapse. This is because elongation causes a breakdown of some muscle cellsleading to a hematoma which in turn causes pain and muscle weakness. Clearly, in these cases it is the magnetic resonance – together with the other instrumental tests – that gives a clearer idea of ​​the extent of the injury” explains the professor.

Adductor elongation: recovery times

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In fact, recovery times for such an injury may vary based on the extent and severity of the injury, but it is not excluded that the problem may be minor: “When we speak of an elongation of the adductor recovery times are particularly variable. If there is a slight elongation, it can also mean minimal stretching with an almost immediate return to sporting activity. If instead there is damage to the muscle cellstimes are getting longer. As mentioned, one of the main concerns of adductor injuries is recurrence, but the choice of whether or not to deploy Leao will depend on the tests and choices of the medical staff, the coach and the player himself. After all, we are talking about professionals of the highest level, who will surely make the best choice” concludes Professor Massé.