Abductors and Adductors

The abductor and adductor muscles are in the hips and thighs, and they work together to enable the legs to move sideways. Abductor muscles include gluteus medius, gluteus minimus, and tensor fasciae latae (TFL). Adductor muscles are mostly made up of small muscles inside the thigh except for the adductor magnus muscle. The abductors allow the legs to move away from the body’s midline, and they are responsible for hip and glute stability. Adductors, on the other hand, enable the legs to move back towards the body’s midline. They are responsible for adduction, flexion, and medial rotation of the femur. Abductor and adductor strains and tears are common and they occur when jumping, running, sprinting, and changing directions.