Groin Pain In Field Sports | What it means and how to fix it

Groin pain is a complex and often persistent problem for athletes in sports like football, soccer, and hockey. It can affect your kicking, sprinting, and change-of-direction movements and if ignored, it can linger for months.

Understanding groin and adductor injuries

The “groin” region includes several muscles and tendons — adductors, hip flexors, and the abdominal attachments — that all work together to stabilise the pelvis. Pain in this area can arise from one structure or a combination, which is why accurate diagnosis is essential.

Common causes of groin injury

– Overuse of overload during high or increased training volume such as during pre-season.
– Weak adductors and hip stabilisers.
– Reduced hip mobility or pelvic control.
– Sudden spikes in kicking or sprinting intensity.

Modern sports medicine uses the Doha Pain Classification to describe groin pain types: adductor-related, iliopsoas-related, inguinal-related, pubic-related, and hip-related. Understanding which applies to you, if the first step in effective rehab.

Groin rehabilitation principles

1. Load management: reducing aggravating activities without full rest.
2. Adductor strengthening exercises like Copenhagen planks and ball squeezes are highly effective.
3. Core stability: building abdominal and hip strength to control pelvic movements.
4. Gradual return to kicking and running drills.

How physiotherapy gets you active post groin injury

At City South Physiotherapy, we assess strength ratios, hip motion, and load tolerance to target the exact source of your pain. Using our assessment, we design a rehab management plan that targets the right tissues while maintaining conditioning.

Don’t let groin pain sideline your season. Book with our South Melbourne physios for a clear, evidence-based recovery plan.