In Canada, groin Pull is managed by sports medicines. A groin pull is an acute strain or tear of one of the adductor muscles of the inner thigh, most often the adductor longus near its bony origin on the pubis. Among male professional athletes in sprinting, cutting, and kicking sports it accounts for 10-18% of all time-loss injuries (UEFA Elite Club Injury Study, Werner 2009).
A groin pull (ICD-10: S76.211 unilateral adductor strain; S76.219 unspecified) is an acute injury of one of the adductor muscles or tendons of the medial thigh — most commonly adductor longus, less often adductor brevis, adductor magnus, gracilis, or pectineus — producing pain at the muscle-tendon junction or proximal enthesis on the pubic bone. The injury results from rapid eccentric loading during change-of-direction running, kicking, sliding tackles, or sudden splits when the leg is forcibly abducted and externally rotated against an adducting contraction. The Doha agreement on groin pain in athletes (2015) classifies the broader groin-pain spectrum into adductor-related, iliopsoas-related, inguinal-related, pubic-related, and hip-related categories, recognizing that acute strains overlap clinically with chronic tendinopathy and pubic-bone stress. The injury is graded by tissue disruption: grade 1 (microscopic damage, no architectural change, pain on resisted adduction), grade 2 (partial tear with discontinuity but intact tendon), and grade 3 (complete rupture or avulsion from the pubic insertion).
The key symptoms of Groin Pull are: Sudden sharp pain at the inner thigh near the groin during a sprint, cut, kick, or slip — often described as a sudden grab or pop., Localized tenderness on palpation along the adductor longus muscle or at its insertion on the pubic bone., Pain reproduced by resisted hip adduction (squeezing the knees together against an examiner's hands or a ball)., Pain on passive hip abduction, especially with the hip extended., Bruising along the inner thigh appearing 24-72 hours after the injury in grade 2 and grade 3 strains., Antalgic gait with the affected leg externally rotated to offload the adductor., Weakness or inability to lift the leg laterally while lying on the side..
Diagnosis is overwhelmingly clinical. The history confirms a single sudden mechanism — cutting, kicking, slipping, or stretching — and pain localized to the inner thigh. Examination follows a structured approach: inspection for bruising and defect; palpation of the adductor longus, adductor brevis, gracilis, pectineus, and the pubic insertions; passive hip range of motion; resisted hip adduction (the 'squeeze test' at 0°, 45°, and 90° hip flexion); single adductor stretch tests; and palpation of the conjoint tendon, inguinal canal, and pubic symphysis to exclude inguinal hernia, athletic pubalgia, and osteitis pubis. The Doha agreement framework guides which clinical entity is dominant — adductor-related, iliopsoas-related, inguinal-related, pubic-related, or hip-related groin pain — and these often coexist. Imaging is not required for grade 1 strains. Ultrasound is the first-line imaging in moderate to severe injuries and shows muscle fiber disruption, hematoma, and tendon avulsion in real time. MRI is reserved for grade 3 tears, persistent symptoms past 4-6 weeks, suspicion of avulsion fracture, and chronic tendinopathy — it grades fiber disruption, detects pubic bone marrow edema, and distinguishes osteitis pubis. Plain radiographs identify pediatric avulsion fractures and degenerative pubic symphyseal changes. Adductor squeeze strength at 0° and 45° measured with a hand-held dynamometer or sphygmomanometer correlates with severity and predicts return-to-sport timelines.
Recovery is excellent for most groin pulls with structured care. Grade 1 strains: full return to sport in 7-14 days, recurrence rate roughly 5-10% in elite cohorts. Grade 2: 21-42 days, recurrence 15-20% if rehabilitation is shortened. Grade 3 complete tears: 56-84 days with conservative management, longer with surgery, recurrence 10-15% with completed rehabilitation. Chronic adductor tendinopathy is the main long-term complication; up to 30% of athletes with poorly rehabilitated acute strains develop chronic groin pain that limits sport participation. Predictors of poor outcome are prior groin injury, persistent strength deficit at return-to-sport, coexisting femoroacetabular impingement, late initiation of structured rehabilitation, and a high-volume cutting or kicking sport at elite level. Surgery for chronic disease delivers return to sport in 70-90% of selected athletes. Long-term hip osteoarthritis risk is increased modestly in athletes with chronic adductor-related groin pain and concurrent FAI.
Sports medicine or musculoskeletal specialist referral is reasonable for any groin pain lasting longer than two weeks, recurrent strains, suspected grade 2 or 3 injury, chronic adductor tendinopathy, or coexisting hip impingement. Specialists confirm diagnosis with ultrasound or MRI, structure return-to-sport progression, and consider PRP, shockwave, or surgery in refractory cases.
Find specialists →Grade 1: pain settles within 5-10 days; return to running by day 10-14. Grade 2: pain resolves over 2-3 weeks; full sprint and cutting drills typically by week 4-6. Grade 3: walking without pain by 2-3 weeks; running by 6-8 weeks; full sport at 10-12 weeks. Chronic adductor tendinopathy: meaningful improvement over 8-12 weeks of heavy slow resistance work, with most athletes returning to sport at 12-16 weeks.
Days 0-3: relative rest with pain-free range of motion, gentle isometric adduction below pain threshold. Days 3-14: progressive isometric and concentric strengthening, stationary cycling, pool walking. Weeks 2-6: Copenhagen adduction exercise (build from short-lever to long-lever side plank with adductor squeeze), single-leg stability work, and graded running. Weeks 6+: change-of-direction and sport-specific drills only when squeeze-test strength exceeds 90% of the uninjured side and movement is pain-free.
Look for a sports medicine physician or musculoskeletal radiologist with experience in athletic groin pain and pelvic ultrasound. Ideal centers offer same-day ultrasound, MR access, and physiotherapy familiar with the Copenhagen protocol and Doha framework. Surgical referral should go to a high-volume hip or sports surgery center if chronic disease persists past 6 months.
Medically reviewed by AIHealz Medical Editorial Board · May 13, 2026
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