Groin pain during squats: what it may mean and what to do

A sudden pain after widening your stance, dropping quickly, or adding weight can involve the adductor muscles on the inner thigh. Pinching deep in the groin, especially at the bottom of a squat, can occur with hip impingement. Hip labral tear can also present with deep groin pain, clicking, or catching. Hip osteoarthritis may cause stiffness and pain with loaded bending, although symptoms vary between people. The symptom itself does not identify one diagnosis.

Pause deep or heavy squats and avoid forcing through sharp pain. Keep comfortable movement such as easy walking if it does not increase symptoms. When you return, try a shallower range, a slower tempo, and a stance that feels natural; stop if pain builds during or after the session. A physiotherapist can check hip mobility, adductor strength, technique, and training load through Sports Physiotherapy. Do not restart maximal lifting until normal daily movement and a controlled squat are comfortable.

Arrange prompt medical assessment for severe pain, inability to bear weight, marked swelling or bruising, a groin bulge, fever, or pain after a significant fall. Seek urgent care for sudden severe hip pain with feeling unwell, or new numbness and weakness. If symptoms keep returning, affect walking, or do not settle after reducing aggravating activity, book an examination to identify the source and guide rehabilitation.

Ask: Could the pain come from an adductor muscle, the hip joint, or another area? Which squat depth and exercises are suitable now? What signs would mean I should stop training? Do I need imaging, or would a movement and strength assessment be more useful first?