Latest article from Mark Roe Sports Physio Academy
Groin pain is a very common complaint in people who are sporty, particularly if their chosen sport involves lots of twisting and turning or lots of physical contact - like football. A pulled ligament, tendon or muscle is the most common injury to this area. In children overuse injuries are quite common too. For example I see quite a lot of these in young keepers who have spent a full hour practicing goal kicks.
Another common cause of groin pain is a sportsman's hernia also known as Gilmore's Groin. This is fairly common in kicking sports and happens when there is a tear in the thin sheet-like tendon of the muscles around the groin.
This condition causes pain when twisting or turning and can radiate to the groin or testicles, but can be difficult to pin-point. Usually the day after sports the groin can feel can be painful and stiff. Coughing and sneezing can also increase the pain.
Initially, people may treat this injury as a pull, working on stretching, but instead of improving, the condition will gradually worsen over time. People can usually continue for a short while, but eventually the pain will increase and performance will worsen. If this happens make sure you see a GP or Chartered Physiotherapist who can diagnose the condition and refer you on to a specialist.
The treatment for a Gilmores groin involves surgery, and the outcomes are usually very good with most people returning to their chosen sport within 5-6 weeks if they are compliant with the rehabilitation programme.
If you felt a pull during a game it is usually down to a specific injury. However if your pain came on gradually it is important to rule out other causes of pain such as the hip, pelvis, abdomen or even water infections.
In my clinic I commonly see lots of children with groin pain that is radiating from the lower back. Often the back is stiff, and the muscles around the pelvis are tight. A good place to start if you get a groin strain is to work on stretches for your hamstring muscles (back of the thigh), buttock muscles, thigh muscles and adductor muscles (inner side of the leg). I would always advise trying some back stretches as well.
The majority of injuries to this area are straightforward and settle within a few weeks. The difficulty for most people is knowing when to go back into playing football again.
After the initial few days of complete rest, I would advise players to have a gradual phased return into playing. Try stretching exercises for a few days, until your symptoms subside, and add some basic strengthening exercises. Your physio should be able to advise on suitable exercises. Then start to make your rehabilitation football specific. For example, start with straight line jogging, then running, and then ease into running big circles in both directions. Make the circles smaller and then add twists and turns with shuttle runs. Then try hopping in all directions and some explosive off the mark sprints.
With kicking, try against a wall or with a partner, passing the ball 5 yards of inside, outside of foot and off the laces. If this feels ok, increase the distance and then try striking with power. At each stage, only progress when you are pain free.
Continue with stretching and strengthening exercises for a couple of months even after the injury has settled to prevent a re-occurrence of injury.
As further commitment from the league to our players' fitness we have negotiated a discount for all players of the Sheffield and District Junior Sunday Football League who attend the clinic for treatment. Players from any team in the League will receive a discount of £10 off their initial consultation following injury, and further discounts should follow-up sessions be required.
Mark Roe
Senior Sports Physiotherapist
The Mark Roe Sports Physio Academy - Sheffield
0114 2390022