Groin Pain: Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment

Groin pain may arise from the hip joint, inner-thigh muscles, abdominal wall or nearby nerves and tissues.

Pain may be felt where the abdomen meets the upper thigh, along the inner thigh, or deep in the front of the hip. It can appear with sprinting, kicking, changing direction, getting out of a chair, climbing stairs or turning in bed. Some people notice clicking, catching, stiffness, weakness or pain with coughing. The exact movement and location are useful clues.

Get urgent care for sudden severe groin or testicular pain, a painful lump that cannot be pushed back, vomiting, faintness, or a swollen and discoloured area. After an injury, prompt assessment is needed if you cannot walk, the hip looks abnormal, or pain is rapidly worsening. Fever with increasing redness or swelling also needs timely medical attention.

The causes are listed alphabetically and are not a likelihood ranking. Groin Strain affects the inner-thigh muscles and may hurt during resisted leg movement. Hip Impingement can cause pain when the hip moves into certain positions. Hip Labral Tear may cause deep hip or groin pain with clicking or catching. Hip Osteoarthritis can produce stiffness and pain with walking or reduced hip movement. Sports Hernia involves the lower abdominal or groin region and may flare with forceful twisting or sprinting.

A clinician asks about sport, work, injury, training changes, urinary or abdominal symptoms and how the pain behaves. Examination may include walking, hip range of motion, resisted inner-thigh and abdominal movements, strength and palpation. Imaging is chosen when the examination suggests a bone, joint or soft-tissue problem. Hip and groin symptoms can overlap, so the painful movement and precise location help guide the investigation.

A muscle-related problem is usually managed with a staged reduction in provoking activity followed by mobility, strength and sport-specific loading. Hip-related symptoms may need targeted physiotherapy, movement modification and medical review; persistent catching or restricted movement can require specialist assessment. If a groin or abdominal-wall problem is suspected, treatment is planned after examination. [Sports Physiotherapy](/treatments/physiotherapy-and-rehabilitation/sports-physiotherapy/) can help with a structured return to running, cutting and kicking.

Increase speed, kicking, sprinting and direction changes progressively. Keep the inner-thigh, hip and trunk muscles conditioned, and include warm-up movements that match the session. Avoid returning to explosive sport while walking, squeezing the legs together or changing direction remains painful. Review training volume and recovery when symptoms appear after a sudden workload change.

Track hip stiffness, inner-thigh tenderness, lower abdominal discomfort, clicking, limping, swelling or pain that travels into the thigh. Also record whether coughing, bowel movements, hip rotation or bringing the legs together changes the pain. These associated features help distinguish overlapping causes.

Arrange assessment when groin pain limits walking, sport, sleep or daily movement, or when it returns each time activity increases. A review is also sensible when symptoms persist without a clear injury, include clicking or catching, or are accompanied by a lump or abdominal discomfort. The goal is to identify the source and set a safe progression back to normal activity.