Hip & Groin Pain

Hip and groin pain can come from the joint itself, the surrounding muscles, or occasionally be referred from the lower back, which is part of why it’s often trickier to pin down than pain in a more straightforward joint like the knee.

Common causes

• Groin strain - overstretched or torn muscles, common in sports involving sprinting, kicking or sudden direction change
• Hip joint restriction - stiffness limiting rotation and range of motion, sometimes linked to early joint changes
• Hip labral issues - irritation of the cartilage rim around the hip socket, often causing a catching or pinching sensation
• Tendinopathy - overuse injury to the muscles and tendons around the hip
• Referred pain from the lower back, which can present as hip or groin discomfort without any actual hip problem

Why the diagnosis matters here in particular

Groin pain in athletes frequently gets treated as a simple muscle strain when it’s actually coming from the hip joint itself, or vice versa. Since the treatment for a joint restriction is very different to the treatment for a muscle strain, working out exactly what’s involved before starting treatment saves time and avoids aggravating the wrong structure.

What we assess

We test hip range of motion in all directions, strength through the surrounding muscles, and rule out (or in) referral from the lower back, since pain felt in the groin doesn’t always originate there.

Treatment approach

For muscle strains, treatment progresses from settling the initial injury through graded strengthening back to full activity, following the same staged approach used for other sports injuries. For joint restrictions, manual therapy to restore movement is combined with strengthening to maintain it. Where the lower back is contributing, treatment addresses that directly rather than just chasing the hip symptom.

Who commonly gets hip and groin pain

Athletes in sports involving sprinting, kicking, or rapid changes of direction (football, martial arts, cricket bowling) are particularly prone to groin strains. Hip joint restriction and labral irritation are more common in people who sit for long periods or have naturally stiffer hips, and can also develop gradually rather than from a single incident.

When to get it assessed

• Groin or hip pain lasting more than two weeks
• Pain during or after running, kicking, or changing direction
• A catching, pinching or locking sensation in the hip
• Pain that hasn’t improved with rest

Why rushing the return is risky here specifically

Groin strains in particular have a reputation for recurring, often because players return to full training as soon as the initial pain settles, without the muscle having regained its full strength and control. A graded return, checked against actual strength benchmarks rather than just how it feels, is what meaningfully reduces that risk of a repeat injury partway through the following season.

When hip pain isn’t from an injury

Not all hip and groin pain starts with a specific incident. Gradual-onset pain, particularly in people who sit for long periods or have naturally tighter hips, is treated a little differently to a sudden strain, usually with a stronger initial focus on restoring range of motion before strength work begins.

Getting started

Alpha Physiotherapy is on PWD Road, Media Town, Rawalpindi. Hip and groin pain responds well to the right diagnosis and a properly staged plan, book an assessment and we’ll work out exactly what’s involved.