Groin pain is a fairly common complaint in both the general population and the sporting population. Unlike many other conditions that present to Physiotherapy, there’s not ‘typical groin pain patient’, it affects male, female young and old individuals.
Groin pain does not seem to discriminate.
What is the groin?
Before you talk about groin pain.. we should actually define where ‘the groin’ actually is.
The Oxford dictionary defines the groin as ‘the area between the abdomen and the upper thigh on either side of the body.’
Vague right..?
This is why this region can be painful so often! Because there is so much going on around the groin, so more structures can cause pain in the area.
The junction between the trunk and the lower limb is a complex, overlapping and multilayered anatomical mess. It’s can be so confusing to both clinicians and patients.
Like anything complex… Break it down
When I am assessing someone with groin pain, I always have a mental picture in my head of the figure from Andreas Serner’s Aspetar article about groin pain (Check it out above). This allows me to sort signs, symptoms and assessment findings into five major buckets. It’s kind of like sorting the colours from the whites when you’re doing the washing.
These major bucket… or pain generating structures can be sorted into the following groups:
1. Adductor-related groin pain (muscles of the inner thigh)
2. Iliopsoas-related groin pain (hip flexors muscles)
3. Inguinal-related groin pain (abdominal wall)
4. Pubic-related groin pain (pelvic bones)
5. Hip-related groin pain (hip joint)
6. Other (urological issues, visceral organs, cancer, infection etc… funky stuff not for physios)
This doesn’t mean everyone will have just a clear cut single structural cause of their pain.
Groin pain can be generated by one, many or all anatomical structures in the groin, making it a tough nut to crack.
I get it, but… How do you manage groin pain?
Based on what you’ve seen above, you now know that ‘groin pain’ is an umbrella term more than a diagnosis. This means that giving you a quick simple answer on fixing groin pain is kinda like trying to explain the meaning of life in a few hundred words.
If you’re struggling with groin pain, see an experienced Physiotherapist that is up to date with the latest evidence. You should leave with an understanding of which structures are likely contributing to your pain and plan.
At Enhance, we pride ourselves on performing a thorough clinical exam, educating the client and empowering the patient to take an active role in the management of their issue. If you’re struggling with groin pain, make a booking now.