Hip and Groin Pain in Men: What to Know

Pain at the groin crease or inner thigh may follow lifting, sprinting, kicking, or a change in training. Hip-joint symptoms can feel deep in the groin and may include stiffness, reduced rotation, or catching. [Groin Pain](/symptoms/groin-pain/) is a symptom, not a diagnosis, and several body regions can refer pain there.

Hip impingement, a hip labral tear, and hip osteoarthritis can each present with hip or groin symptoms, but a physical examination is needed to distinguish them. A bulge, pain with coughing, burning urination, fever, testicular pain, or abdominal symptoms points to a need for medical assessment beyond routine sports rehabilitation.

Stop or modify the activity that provokes pain, particularly heavy lifting, sprinting, cutting, and forceful kicking. Keep gentle movement within comfort and note whether symptoms change with walking, coughing, hip rotation, urination, or meals. Do not repeatedly test a painful area with maximal effort.

[Sports Physiotherapy](/treatments/physiotherapy-and-rehabilitation/sports-physiotherapy/) may help when assessment supports a musculoskeletal cause. Rehabilitation can address adductor and hip strength, trunk control, running mechanics, and a gradual return to loading. Persistent or unexplained symptoms should be reviewed by a doctor.

Seek urgent care for sudden severe testicular pain, a painful swollen testicle, a groin bulge that cannot be gently reduced, severe abdominal pain, vomiting, fever, inability to pass urine, or inability to bear weight after injury. Arrange an appointment for persistent pain, a new lump, recurrent symptoms, urinary changes, or pain that wakes you at night.

Tell your clinician what started the pain and ask whether the hip, adductors, abdominal wall, urinary system, or testicle needs examination. Ask which activities are safe, whether imaging is appropriate, and what improvement should look like before lifting or sport resumes.