Who gets groin pain?
Athletes of a wide range of sports are susceptible to groin injuries. Athletes partaking in change of direction and kicking-based sports are the most prone to developing groin pain (AFL, soccer, hockey), and it is more prevalent in males than females (Orchard, 2015).
Why do we get groin pain?
The million-dollar question! Groin pain is often associated with an increase in sporting loads and/or intensities. This could be increasing your running pace whilst preparing for a half-marathon or it could be increasing training intensity in preparation for finals. There is evidence to suggest that groin pain is associated with eccentric adductor strength deficits (Thorbord et al., 2014).
How do we assess groin pain at BSP?
After obtaining a clear injury history, a physio will complete a thorough assessment, including a hip profile strength test and groin squeeze testing. The hip profile testing will be a battery of hip strength tests to assess for muscle strength deficits using our AXIT force plates and hand- held dynamometer. This will be followed by more functional movement testing on our force plates such as countermovement jumps/hops and drop jumps/hops amongst others. At the end of your comprehensive assessment, you will better understand your groin pain diagnosis and the path to recovery
How do we treat groin pain at BSP?
There is no one size fits all approach for groin pain. Depending on your sporting background and seasonal demands, your treatment plan and length may vary. A physio will put together a clear individualised management plan addressing your deficits and working towards a return to your sport as a more robust and resilient athlete. There are 4 primary stages of rehabilitation in groin pain:
- Return to gym-based rehab
- Return to straight-line running
- Return to change of direction, acceleration and high-speed running
- Return to training and matches
At each of the stages, your progress will be monitored through reassessment of your specific deficits using our force plates.
Pain management strategies are important when it comes to controlling groin pain. Manual therapy can often help with settling symptoms acutely (ie. in preparation for a match or session) and load modifications may be recommended by your physio.
How to prevent Groin Pain?
In professional field-based athletes, groin pain is prevented by monitoring groin strength over the course of a season. Decreases in strength often precede episodes of groin pain. Tailored strength and conditioning programs are key in preventing groin pain. Similarly, load management and ensuring there are no acute spikes in training/match loads help prevent not just groin pain but other load related injuries (ie. muscle strains, bone stress, tendinopathies etc.)
How to prevent Groin Pain?
Pushing through groin pain is never a viable solution. Appropriate early management is key to a good prognosis. If you are suffering from groin pain, see a physiotherapist at BSP to determine the source of your groin pain and what you can do to address the issue. In some cases, a physiotherapist may refer you for scans for further clarity on your source of pain.
Orchard, J. W. (2015). Men at higher risk of groin injuries in elite team sports: a systematic review. British journal of sports medicine, 49(12), 798-802.
Thorborg, K., Branci, S., Nielsen, M. P., Tang, L., Nielsen, M. B., & Hölmich, P. (2014). Eccentric and isometric hip adduction strength in male soccer players with and without adductor-related groin pain: an assessor-blinded comparison. Orthopaedic journal of sports medicine, 2(2), 2325967114521778.
