Inguinal-related groin pain and/or disruption in athletes: current understanding, assessment and management strategies

Key Points

1. Inguinal-related groin pain involves pathology of the abdominal tendinous and fascial structures attaching to the inguinal ligament and pubic tubercle.

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BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE

Inguinal-related groin pain involves pathology of the abdominal tendinous and fascial structures attaching to the inguinal ligament and pubic tubercle. Historically, inguinal-related groin pain has been described using a variety of terms, such as athletic pubalgia, sports hernia, Gilmore’s groin and core muscle injury.

Diagnosis requires exclusion of other potential sources of groin pain, including hip joint pathology, iliopsoas-related pain, stress fractures and adductor or pubic-related conditions. Ongoing variability in terminology has contributed to limited consensus regarding the underlying pathology, assessment and management strategies.

The aim of this narrative review was to synthesize current knowledge on inguinal-related groin pain and/or disruption, with particular emphasis on anatomical and pathophysiological considerations. It also offers an evidence-based summary of clinical examination and management strategies for athletes.

Inguinal-related groin pain involves pathology of the abdominal tendinous and fascial structures attaching to the inguinal ligament and pubic tubercle.

Exercise therapy is safe and often first-line for inguinal-related groin pain; however, it is not always effective, especially in longstanding cases.

METHODS

This article is a narrative review. Compared to systematic reviews, narrative reviews are more flexible and have less rigid protocols and standards, allow authors to identify gaps in the research, often cover a larger topic of interest versus a specific

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