What to expect from sports physiotherapy for a groin strain

The physiotherapist may examine the painful area, hip movement, adductor strength, abdominal control and the actions that reproduce symptoms, such as cutting, kicking or changing direction. Early treatment often uses comfortable range-of-motion work and gentle isometric strengthening. As irritability settles, exercises can progress to resisted adduction, lunges, squats, running drills and sport-specific direction changes. The goal is to improve how the groin shares load with the hip and trunk, rather than simply testing pain.

Complete the prescribed exercises with the stated repetitions and rest periods, and tell your physiotherapist how symptoms respond later that day and the next morning. Avoid repeatedly testing the injury with maximal sprinting, wide lunges or powerful kicks while it is irritable. Keep fitness with alternatives your clinician considers suitable. Progress should follow better strength and movement control, not pressure to meet a match date.

Arrange medical review if pain is severe, the injury followed a significant impact, bruising or swelling is increasing, or you cannot walk normally. Seek urgent help for sudden testicular pain or swelling, severe abdominal pain, vomiting, a painful groin bulge that cannot be pushed back, or new leg numbness. These features may need assessment beyond routine sports rehabilitation.

Ask which tissues may be involved, whether imaging or a specialist examination is needed, which training can continue, and what strength and running milestones should precede full sport.