A new view on adduction-related groin pain

Clin J Sport Med. 2006 Jan;16(1):15-9. doi: 10.1097/01.jsm.0000180869.37673.7b.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the hypothesis that groin pain at isometric hip adduction may not be caused by adductor tendinitis.

Design: Symptoms and signs in a cross-sectional analysis.

Setting: Multicenter primary care institutes.

Subjects: Athletes with pain in the groin(s), provoked by playing sports, with a duration of complaints for at least 1 month and pain provocation on isometric adduction of the hips.

Interventions: Data on medical history and symptoms were collected. Pain provocation tests and strength measurements were performed. A pelvic belt was used to investigate its influence on pain provocation and strength.

Main outcome measurements: Site of the pain, duration of the complaints, severity of the pain, hip adduction force, pain at isometric hip adduction, restriction to perform active straight leg raising, influence of a pelvic belt on pain and strength of isometric hip adduction and straight leg raising.

Results: Groin pain was bilateral in 41%; pain was also located at the posterior aspect of the pelvis in 32%; Active Straight Leg Raise (ASLR) test was positive in 39%. When tested with a pelvic belt, the weakness of ASLR improved in all with a positive ASLR, hip adduction force increased significantly in 39% and pain at forceful isometric hip adduction decreased in 68%.

Conclusions: Groin pain at isometric hip adduction may not be caused by adductor tendinitis in a large proportion of athletes with adduction-related groin pain. The results suggest that adduction-related groin pain with a positive belt test may be treated by stabilization of the pelvis.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Athletic Injuries / physiopathology*
  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Groin / pathology
  • Hip
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Movement
  • Pain / physiopathology*
  • Pain Measurement