Adductor-related groin pain is pain at the inner groin where the adductor (inner thigh) muscles attach to the pubic bone, and it is the most common type of groin pain in sport. It is typical in football and other sports with kicking, sprinting and changes of direction. Evidence suggests an active strengthening programme is effective for both treatment and prevention.
Also known as adductor-related groin pain, groin strain, athletic groin pain, adductor tendinopathy
Symptoms
- Pain in the inner groin near the pubic bone
- Pain when squeezing the knees together against resistance
- Pain with kicking, sprinting, cutting or changing direction
- Tenderness where the inner thigh muscle attaches to the pubic bone
- Stiffness or pain the morning after sport
- Pain that warms up during exercise but returns afterwards
Causes and risk factors
- Sports with kicking, sprinting and quick changes of direction, such as football and hockey
- Previous groin injury
- Weak inner thigh (adductor) muscles
- Sudden increases in training or match load
- Reduced hip movement
What the evidence says helps
- The Doha Agreement classifies groin pain in athletes into adductor-, iliopsoas-, inguinal- and pubic-related pain, hip-related groin pain and other causes. This helps clinicians match care to the likely source.1
- In a landmark trial, an active programme to strengthen the muscles around the pelvis, especially the adductors, helped far more athletes return to sport without pain than passive physiotherapy treatments.2
- A systematic review found moderate evidence that active exercise is more effective than passive treatments, and that adding manual therapy may shorten the time to return to sport.3
- In a trial with male football players, a simple adductor strengthening programme (the Copenhagen adduction exercise) reduced the risk of groin problems by about 41% across a season.4
- Groin pain often has more than one contributing cause, so a thorough assessment and graded return to sport are important.13
Things you can try at home
- Reduce the activities that trigger pain, such as long kicking or sprinting, rather than stopping all exercise
- Start gentle adductor squeezes with a ball or pillow between the knees if they are comfortable
- Add the Copenhagen adduction exercise to your routine once pain allows
- Build training and match load back up gradually
- Keep up adductor strength work in-season to help prevent recurrence
When to get urgent help
Contact your GP urgently, call NHS 111, or call 999 in an emergency if you have:
- Sudden severe pain in the testicles, with or without swelling – call 999 or go to A&E
- A painful lump in the groin that cannot be pushed back, especially with vomiting – go to A&E
- Groin pain with fever or feeling generally unwell – get same-day medical help or call NHS 111
- Pain that persists at rest or at night, which may suggest a stress fracture – see your GP urgently
- Being unable to walk or bear weight after an injury – seek urgent medical assessment
How Apollo can help
We assess your groin, hip and trunk to identify the likely sources of pain, using the Doha classification as a framework. VALD testing lets us measure adductor and hip strength so your rehabilitation can be tracked objectively. Our team guides a progressive strengthening programme, a staged return to running and sport and longer-term prevention, and we refer on if we suspect a hernia, hip joint problem or other cause.
No GP referral needed. Clinics in Sheringham, Coltishall and Norwich.
Related reading
Frequently asked questions
Is groin pain in sport the same as a sports hernia?
Not always. The Doha Agreement separates adductor-related, iliopsoas-related, inguinal-related and pubic-related groin pain, as well as hip-related pain. Adductor-related pain is the most common, while terms like sports hernia are now used less.
How long does adductor-related groin pain take to heal?
It depends on how long you have had symptoms and how severe they are. In the original trial of active training, the programme lasted 8 to 12 weeks, and long-standing cases often take several months to return fully to sport.
What is the Copenhagen adduction exercise?
It is a side-plank style exercise in which the top leg is supported on a bench or partner and the inner thigh muscles hold the body up. A trial in footballers found a programme built around it reduced groin problems over a season.
References
- Weir A, et al. (2015). Doha agreement meeting on terminology and definitions in groin pain in athletes. British Journal of Sports Medicine. View source
- Hölmich P, Uhrskou P, Ulnits L, et al. (1999). Effectiveness of active physical training as treatment for long-standing adductor-related groin pain in athletes: randomised trial. The Lancet, 353(9151), 439–443. View source
- Serner A, et al. (2015). Study quality on groin injury management remains low: a systematic review on treatment of groin pain in athletes. British Journal of Sports Medicine. View source
- Harøy J, Clarsen B, Wiger EG, et al. (2019). The Adductor Strengthening Programme prevents groin problems among male football players: a cluster-randomised controlled trial. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 53(3), 150–157. View source
- Mosler AB, et al. (2017). Epidemiology of time loss groin injuries in a men's professional football league: a 2-year prospective study of 17 clubs and 606 players. British Journal of Sports Medicine. View source
This page is general information, not a diagnosis or a substitute for medical advice. If you are worried about your symptoms, speak to your GP or a registered healthcare professional. Content prepared from the sources above, November 2026.
