What should you know about groin and scrotum pain?

A pulled groin muscle may hurt after sprinting, kicking, lifting, or changing direction. Hip impingement, a labral tear, or hip osteoarthritis can produce pain felt in the groin and sometimes nearby areas, especially with hip movement. Scrotal swelling, tenderness, a lump, urinary burning, discharge, or fever may indicate a condition involving the testicle, epididymis, hernia, urinary tract, or skin and should not be self-diagnosed as a sports injury.

Note whether the pain started suddenly, followed an impact, changes with walking or hip movement, or comes with nausea, vomiting, fever, urinary symptoms, or a groin bulge. This history helps determine how quickly you need care.

Stop sport and heavy lifting while the cause is uncertain. Wear comfortable supportive underwear if it reduces movement-related discomfort, and use a wrapped cold pack briefly after an injury. Do not massage a swollen scrotum or delay assessment to test exercises. Persistent symptoms need a clinician’s examination; physiotherapy is considered only after urgent scrotal and other medical causes have been assessed. Sports Physiotherapy may then support a graded return to activity.

Go to emergency care for sudden or severe scrotal pain, a high-riding or twisted-looking testicle, swelling with nausea or vomiting, faintness, severe pain after injury, or a painful groin bulge that cannot be pushed back. Seek prompt review for fever, redness, urinary difficulty, discharge, a new lump, or pain that persists.

Does the examination suggest a testicular, hernia, hip, or muscle cause? Do I need urgent imaging or urine testing? How should I support the area while waiting? When is it safe to resume exercise?