GROIN PAIN IN ATHLETES
Sports groin pain often occurs in athletes, whose activity involves sudden acceleration, twisting and turning, cutting or kicking movements.
The onset of symptoms can be sudden or gradual, but both types can become chronic, unless proper rehabilitation with a targeted exercise program is done.
When the onset is sudden, the mechanism is the acute injury of the groin muscles (e.g. the adductor muscles) and the treatment follows the classic treatment of the muscular sprains. Initially, there is a rest period of 2-5 
days until the acute inflammation subsides and then a progressive exercise program begins to strengthen the injured muscles and activate the core stabilizing muscles.
When the onset is gradual, in the early stages, the pain appears towards the end of the workout, resolves with rest and reappears the following morning. Mild activities and warm-up reduce symptoms. However, as the condition progresses, the pain occurs immediately with the onset of exercise, it lasts longer and becomes more acute, and ultimately causes the athlete to temporarily stop athletic activity.
In this form of the syndrome, it is necessary to make a careful assessment of the athlete and find out which muscle groups have the problem in order to provide a personalized exercise program.
The rehabilitation program usually includes:
- Activation of pelvic floor stabilizers and retraining of motor control
- The progressive strengthening of the adducts, glutes, agonal sutures and abdominal muscles with isometric exercises and then with isotonic exercises.
- Following are combinational, functional exercises that simulate athletic activity, in which the athlete builds the strength and endurance of all the muscles in the area.
- Finally, the movement pattern is evaluated while running and when necessary the athlete is re-trained to run in a manner that does not strain the area.
