What to expect from a return-to-sport programme for groin strain

A clinician first reviews pain, tenderness, hip movement and the demands of your sport. Early work may use gentle range-of-motion exercises and controlled adductor loading. As symptoms settle, exercises can include side-lying leg work, resisted hip movements, bridges, squats and lunges. The load is increased when you can complete it with steady control and no meaningful flare later that day or the next morning.

Running usually progresses from straight-line jogging to faster efforts, acceleration, deceleration and changes of direction. Kicking, shuffling or contact drills are added according to your sport. The final decision considers strength, confidence, movement quality and training tolerance rather than a calendar date alone.

Follow the prescribed frequency and keep a simple record of pain during exercise and after activity. Warm up before running or drills, use the technique your therapist teaches and avoid suddenly adding extra matches or intense sessions. Tell your clinician if pain becomes sharper, your stride changes, bruising returns or the groin feels weaker. Resume team training in stages, with rest between demanding sessions while capacity builds.

Arrange a clinical review if pain is not improving, keeps returning when running resumes or limits normal walking. Seek prompt assessment after a sudden pop, marked bruising, a new bulge, inability to bear weight, numbness or severe swelling. Chest, abdominal or testicular symptoms are not typical exercise soreness and need urgent medical attention.

Ask which exercises match your strain, what symptom response is acceptable, when to begin jogging, how to progress team training and which movements should be paused. You can also ask how strength and readiness will be checked before competition.