ABSTRACT

Groin pain in athletes is a common problem: it occurs in soccer in 5-13% of injuries in men and in 4-5% of injuries in women. It is one of the most difficult problems in sports medicine. A groin injury may be acute but if often leads to chronic pain with diffuse symptoms that are difficult to characterize, and these injuries are therefore often difficult to locate and to diagnose. Successful management, however, depends on correct diagnosis. The examining physician, physical therapist, or trainer must have a thorough knowledge of the differential diagnostic possibilities in the groin area. Teamwork is often necessary for a successful outcome: ideally this team should include not only an orthopedic surgeon and a primary physician, but also an experienced radiologist, a general surgeon, a gynecologist, and a neurologist. An experienced trainer and physical therapist should also be included.