Groin pain is pain felt near the inner thigh, front of the hip, lower belly, or pubic bone. It is common in sport and in active jobs. For a wider guide to groin conditions, see our Groin Pain Guide.

The groin links the belly, pelvis, hip, and thigh. Muscles, tendons, joints, nerves, and bones can all cause pain here. A clear check helps work out the likely cause.

Common causes include inner thigh tendon pain, groin strain, FAIS, hip labral tears, and hip arthritis. Less common causes include stress fractures, sports hernia-type pain, and joint inflammation.

Symptoms of Groin Pain

Symptoms vary with the cause. Groin pain may affect walking, running, kicking, stairs, or side-step movement.

• pain in the inner thigh or front of the hip
• pain when running, kicking, or changing direction
• tenderness along the adductor muscles
• hip stiffness or reduced hip movement
• pain with sit-ups or core work
• pain with walking, stairs, or standing on one leg
• deep hip pinching, clicking, or catching

Sports that involve sprinting, kicking, cutting, and fast turns place more load on the groin.

Common Causes of Groin Pain

Groin pain may start from muscles, tendons, joints, bones, or nearby nerves. Your physio will look at your symptoms, load, sport, and movement pattern.

Hip Adductor Tendinopathy

Hip adductor tendinopathy is tendon pain where the inner thigh muscles attach near the pelvis. It often builds after more running, kicking, gym load, or sport volume.

Groin Strain

A groin strain is a stretch or tear of an adductor muscle. It can happen during sprinting, kicking, sudden turns, or a long reach for the ball.

Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome

FAIS can cause front hip or deep groin pain. The hip may pinch with squats, lunges, sitting low, or turning the hip inward.

Hip Labral Tears

A hip labral tear affects the cartilage rim around the hip socket. It may cause groin pain, clicking, catching, or a sense that the hip does not move smoothly.

Hip Arthritis

Hip arthritis can cause groin pain, stiffness, and reduced walking comfort. Pain may build with standing, stairs, or long walks.

Stress Fractures

Bone stress injuries near the pelvis or femur can cause deep groin pain. Pain that gets worse with weight-bearing and does not settle needs prompt care.

Groin Pain by Location or Pattern

Inner Thigh Pain

Inner thigh pain often points to adductor muscle or tendon load. It may hurt when you squeeze the knees together, sprint, side-step, or kick.

Front Hip or Deep Groin Pain

Deep groin pain may come from the hip joint. FAIS and labral tears can also cause clicking, catching, stiffness, or pinching.

Groin Pain During Running or Kicking

Sport-related groin pain often links to adductor load, hip flexor load, core load, or hip joint stress. A quick jump in training can flare symptoms.

Groin Pain With Movement

Pain with twisting, sprinting, or side movement may suggest muscle, tendon, hip joint, or pelvic control factors.

Is Groin Pain Serious?

Most groin pain comes from muscle or tendon overload and can settle with the right plan. Seek help if pain is severe, follows trauma, stops normal walking, or keeps coming back.

Scans such as X-ray, ultrasound, or MRI may be useful if pain persists, if a bone injury is possible, or if the diagnosis is unclear.

How Is Groin Pain Diagnosed?

A physiotherapist will assess groin pain with a history, movement tests, strength tests, and function tests. The aim is to find the likely pain source and the loads that keep symptoms active.

Your assessment may include:

• review of symptoms, sport load, and injury history
• hip, pelvis, and lower back movement tests
• adductor, hip, gluteal, and core strength tests
• walking, squat, running, or sport-specific tests
• palpation of the adductor, pubic, hip, and pelvic regions

The National Center for Biotechnology Information notes that adductor strain is a common source of medial thigh and groin pain in athletes. It also describes the adductor squeeze test as a useful clinical test for adductor strain.

How Is Groin Pain Treated?

Treatment depends on the diagnosis, pain level, and what you need to return to. Many people improve with a clear plan and steady load progress.

A physiotherapist may recommend:

• short-term changes to sport, gym, or work load
• progressive adductor strength work
• hip, gluteal, and pelvic control drills
• a gradual return to running, kicking, or sport
• manual therapy if joint stiffness adds to symptoms
• load advice for training, work, or daily tasks

Exercises for the core muscles, deep hip rotators, gluteals, and adductors may help reduce stress on the groin.

Can You Keep Exercising With Groin Pain?

You may keep exercising if pain stays mild, does not worsen during activity, and settles soon after. Reduce load if pain is sharp, changes how you walk, or keeps flaring.

Related Groin Conditions

Groin pain can overlap with hip, pelvis, tendon, and lower back problems. These pages may help you compare symptom patterns:

• Osteitis Pubis
• Hip Adductor Tendinopathy
• Groin Strain
• Femoroacetabular Impingement
• Hip Labral Tear
• Hip Arthritis
• Sacroiliac Joint Pain

When Should You Seek Professional Advice?

Consider seeing a physiotherapist if:

• pain persists longer than a few days
• pain affects walking, running, work, or sport
• symptoms continue despite rest
• you have repeated groin injuries
• you have deep hip clicking, catching, or pinching
• you are unsure whether to rest, train, or strengthen

What to Do Next

If groin pain is limiting your activity or sport, a physiotherapist can help identify the likely cause and guide a safe plan. Early assessment may reduce guesswork, guide exercise choice, and support a steady return to activity.

Book online at your preferred PhysioWorks clinic, or choose a clinic that suits your location and appointment needs.

References

1. Thorborg K, Reiman MP, Weir A, 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. 2018;48(4):239-249.
2. Weir A, Brukner P, Delahunt E, et al. Doha agreement meeting on terminology and definitions in groin pain in athletes. Br J Sports Med. 2015;49(12):768-774.
3. Nielsen MF, Ishøi L, Juhl C, Hölmich P, Thorborg K. Pain provocation tests and clinical entities in male football players with longstanding groin pain are associated with pain intensity and disability. Musculoskelet Sci Pract. 2023;63:102719. doi:10.1016/j.msksp.2023.102719
4. Thorborg K. Current clinical concepts: exercise and load management of adductor strains, adductor ruptures, and long-standing adductor-related groin pain. J Athl Train. 2023;58(7-8):589-601. doi:10.4085/1062-6050-0496.21

Groin Pain FAQs

What is the most common cause of groin pain?

Common causes include adductor strain, hip adductor tendinopathy, and hip joint pain such as FAIS. The most likely cause depends on your age, sport, load, injury history, and where you feel pain.

Can groin pain come from the hip joint?

Yes. FAIS, hip labral tears, and hip arthritis can all cause pain felt in the groin. Deep pain, clicking, catching, stiffness, or pinching may make a hip joint source more likely.

How long does groin pain take to recover?

Recovery time varies. A mild strain may settle within a few weeks. Tendon, pubic, or hip joint pain can take longer and often needs a staged strength and return-to-sport plan.

Should I stop sport if I have groin pain?

Not always. You may need to reduce running, kicking, cutting, or gym load for a short time. Stop or reduce the task if pain is sharp, worsening, or changes how you move.

Should I stretch groin pain?

Gentle mobility may help some people. Hard stretching can irritate sore muscles or tendons. Strength, load control, and a gradual return to activity often matter more than stretching alone.

Can physiotherapy help groin pain?

Physiotherapy may help by checking likely causes, guiding load, improving hip and pelvic strength, and planning a safe return to activity. The best plan depends on your pain pattern and goals.