What should you know about referred groin pain?

The hip commonly sends pain toward the groin because the hip joint and groin share nerve pathways. Hip impingement, a labral tear, or hip osteoarthritis may cause symptoms that feel deep, aching, or sharp with walking, turning, or sitting. A strained adductor muscle can hurt near the inner thigh, while irritation from the lower back may produce pain without a clear groin injury.

A clinician will consider the exact location, movement triggers, strength, hip range of motion, back symptoms, abdominal symptoms, and any recent activity change. Groin pain itself does not identify one diagnosis; the pattern and examination help separate joint, muscle, nerve, and non-musculoskeletal causes.

Reduce activities that clearly reproduce the pain for a short period, but keep gentle movement within comfort. Avoid forceful stretching, sprinting, and heavy lifting until the cause is clearer. Note whether coughing, hip rotation, stairs, prolonged sitting, or exercise changes the symptom.

Arrange an assessment if pain persists, returns with activity, or limits walking. Depending on the findings, care may include activity modification, targeted exercises, or sports physiotherapy. Do not start strengthening through sharp pain without guidance.

Seek urgent medical care for sudden severe groin pain, inability to bear weight, a new painful bulge, testicular pain or swelling, fever, vomiting, or abdominal tenderness. Prompt assessment is also needed after a significant fall or when the leg becomes numb, weak, cold, or discoloured.

Ask: Could my hip, back, abdominal wall, or inner-thigh muscles be contributing? Which movements should I pause? Do I need imaging or a physiotherapy assessment? What changes should make me seek urgent help?