Sportsman's Groin

Sportsman’s groin, also known as athletic pubalgia, is a condition that causes chronic groin pain in athletes, usually without a true hernia. It occurs due to overload or weakness in the muscles and tendons around the groin, lower abdomen, and pubic region, often from repetitive kicking, twisting, or sudden changes of direction.

This condition is most common in football, soccer, rugby, hockey, and other high-intensity sports that require rapid acceleration, deceleration, and rotation.

Common symptoms include:

• Pain in the groin or lower abdomen, often during activity
• Discomfort with kicking, twisting, sprinting, or sudden direction changes
• Pain that improves with rest but returns with activity
• Tenderness around the pubic bone or inner thigh
• Occasional tightness or weakness in hip and core muscles

Physiotherapy management focuses on:

• Reducing pain and inflammation
• Restoring hip, groin, and core strength
• Improving flexibility, movement control, and stability
• Correcting technique and load during sport or training
• Supporting a safe return to full sport or activity