This clinical commentary addresses the persistent challenge of groin pain in athletes, particularly in multidirectional sports, which has historically been complex to diagnose and manage due to a lack of agreed-upon terminology.
The text highlights a recent evolution in the field, with an emerging evidence-based understanding guiding improved clinical examination, imaging, and testing for impairments.
The authors present a framework for evaluating athletes, emphasizing the importance of ruling out serious pathologies and distinguishing between various classifications of groin pain, such as adductor-, pubic-, inguinal-, iliopsoas-, and hip-related pain.
Finally, the commentary discusses evidence-based management strategies, advocating for non-surgical interventions as a first-line approach for many of these conditions.
(Thorborg K, Reiman MP, Weir A, Kemp JL, Serner A, Mosler AB, et al. Clinical examination, diagnostic imaging, and testing of athletes with groin pain: An evidence-based approach to effective management. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther [Internet]. 2018;48(4):239–49. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.2519/jospt.2018.7850)