Groin stiffness sounds pretty straightforward…tightness in the inner thigh. Sometimes it can be painful. What happens if it feels like its pinching too? Ever think, “Well I didn’t exactly do anything to pull my groin muscle.” Does all this sound familiar?
In this blog post, we are looking at multiple causes of groin pain so you get a better understanding of how it can be treated.
**This is not medical advice. Please consult your medical provider for more information.
Issues With Soft Tissue
The inner thigh is composed of the hip adductor muscles. This group of muscles is composed of the adductor brevis, adductor longus, adductor magnus, pectineus, and gracilis muscles.
There are also muscles in the front of the hip which aid in hip flexion – the movement of bringing your knee up closer to your chest. These muscles include rectus femoris, sartorius, iliacus, and psoas.
Hip Flexors
Common causes of anterior groin pain can be due to injury to the muscles of the anterior hip. Overuse of the hip flexors can lead to pain or groin stiffness. It can also result in bursitis of the iliopsoas bursa. Individuals who sit for long periods of time will most likely have shortened hip flexors which may cause pain during standing or with extension of the hip.
Hip Adductors
“Pulling” or straining the hip adductor muscle(s) is another common cause of groin stiffness and pain. This is a common sports injury amongst athletes. Repetitive movements such as kicking a soccer ball can cause this type of injury.
Issues with the Hip Joint
Arthritis
Arthritis of the hip joint can cause pain deep within in the joint, however there can also be feeling of stiffness in the groin and inner groin pain. Imaging can confirm this type of diagnosis.
Labral Tear
The labrum is a ring of cartilage that helps hold the ball (the top of the femur) within the hip socket. It also helps hold the fluid within the hip joint for lubrication during motion.
A labral tear refers to a tear within the ring of cartilage. Sports such as ice hockey and golf have higher risks of developing labral tears, but this is also something that can occur when there are structural problems with the hip joint.
With labral tears, sensations of the hip locking or clicking, groin pain and stiffness, and loss of range of motion are all common symptoms.
Impingement
There can be structural issues within the hip joint that can lead to what is called FAI or femoroacetabular impingement. There are three types of FAI: pincer, cam, and combined.
Pincer impingement is found when there is a bony overgrowth over the rim of the acetabulum, causing the labrum to get pinched. In cam impingement, the femoral head does not rotate smoothly within the acetabulum because the femoral head is not a rounded shape. When both pincer and cam impingements are present, this is a combined impingement.
Other Issues to Consider
Inguinal Hernia
A hernia is when internal organs protrude through a weak spot in the abdominal wall and muscles. An inguinal hernia refers to protrusion in the area of the lower abdominal wall and can appear within the groin.
Referring Pain from the Testicles
Less common causes of groin pain can be referred pain from the testicles in males.
Most common causes of groin pain do not require medical attention. However if you experience severe and prolonged groin pain without reason, have swelling of the scrotum, blood in your urine, or notice any physical changes in the testicles, seek medical attention and talk with a doctor about your symptoms.
TL;DR
Stiffness or pain in the groin can be caused by many factors, not just your typical “I pulled my groin.” This post covers many possible causes of groin stiffness and pain. If you know what is generating the stiffness or pain, it makes it much easier to treat it.
Tera Sandona is a licensed Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) and the founder of PT Complete. She helps high-achieving women break out of cycles of chronic pain, stress, and burnout through her Regulate and Rebuild Method, a sequenced approach that addresses the nervous system first and builds strength second. Her work focuses on helping women finally understand their bodies, rebuild strength, and create lasting resilience that fits real life.
