Groin pain is a common complaint among athletes (up to 6% in some reports). Groin pain can be acute or develop insidiously or chronically. The term ‘groin pain’ refers to anterior pain. Posterior, buttock pain, in athletes is a different issue.
Causes of groin pain in athletes
Many times it is not fully understood why an athlete suffers from groin pain, as objective findings are scarce. In other cases, findings are abundant and the diagnosis is straightforward. Anyway, groin pain is more common is sports in which there is repeat kicking, direct contact and running with frequent change in direction.
Typical names for groin pain in athletes include the following:
- Pubalgia
- Sport hernia – a condition that resembles a true hernia in its presentation but without a true deficit in the abdominal wall. Pain is aggravated by coughing, valsalva etc.
- Gilmore’s groin
- Conjoint tendon injury
- Adductor muscle injury
- Urologic conditions
- Pelvic bone disease – with or without primary structural deficit
Treatment of groin pain in athletes
Most cases of groin pain in athletes will resolve on their own. Sometimes surgical treatment will be offered, especially if hernia is suspected. In this case it is common to find separation of the external oblique fibers. After surgery the athlete returns to activity gradually within 10 weeks on average. Reported success rate exceeds 85%.
