Physical Therapy Management of Activity-Related Groin Injury: A Case Report

Background: The risk for groin-related injury increases with participation in activities dominated by lower extremity strength, coordination and/or speed. Utilizing a variety of clinical examination measures is important for differentiating between the number of potential pain-causing tissues. This case report aims to discuss the clinical management of a patient with sub-acute, muscle-related groin pain; specific interest is taken with the clinical examination, therapeutic intervention and return-to-activity guidelines associated with groin injury. Case Description: A 35-year-old male runner presented to an outpatient orthopedic clinic with a sub-acute groin strain. Clinical patterns existed that paired mechanism of injury and pain location to specific tissues at fault in the case of groin injury. The clinical management of this injury is described and discussed throughout this report. Physical Therapy Intervention: Effective implementation of active training in a plan of care optimizes patient outcomes. The addition of early hip adduction isometrics with progression to more intense resisted movement was shown to be beneficial for the improvement of the patient’s pain symptoms and return to activity. Conclusion: Physical therapy management of muscle-related groin pain should focus on functional interventions that are specific to a patient’s activities and facilitate limb symmetry. Further research into the best measures of progress and standardized return-to-activity testing is needed.