What should you know about recurring groin pain?

Groin pain can follow an adductor or other muscle strain, especially after sprinting, kicking, changing direction, or increasing training quickly. Hip impingement may cause pain with deep flexion, turning, or prolonged sitting. A hip labral tear can be associated with catching, clicking, or deep pain, while hip osteoarthritis may bring stiffness and reduced walking or hip movement.

Pain can also be referred from the lower abdomen, back, or pelvis. The side, exact location, onset, movements that reproduce it, and whether there is clicking, weakness, a bulge, fever, or testicular pain help determine the next examination.

Reduce sprinting, kicking, cutting, and deep hip positions while symptoms are active, but keep gentle movement that does not increase pain. Do not repeatedly test the painful motion. A clinician or sports physiotherapist can assess hip range, strength, running mechanics, and load tolerance, then progress strengthening and sport-specific drills in stages. Note what activity, footwear, surface, or training change preceded each recurrence.

Seek urgent care for sudden severe groin or hip pain after trauma, inability to bear weight, a painful groin bulge that cannot be pushed back, fever with a hot joint, or sudden testicular pain or swelling. Arrange prompt assessment for night pain that is worsening, marked weakness, numbness, or symptoms that keep returning despite reduced activity.

Ask whether the pain is more consistent with muscle loading or a hip-joint problem, whether imaging would change treatment, and which exercises are safe. Ask when to resume running or sport, how to adjust training load, and whether sports physiotherapy would be useful.