Groin Pain in Footballers

Abstract

Background Groin pain and tenderness are common in athletes from a variety of codes of football, but little attention has been directed to the influence of magnetic resonance imaging and such clinical findings on athlete participation. Hypothesis Preseason groin pain, tenderness, and magnetic resonance imaging findings such as pubic bone marrow edema are associated with restricted training capacity and missed games. Study Design Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. Methods Fifty-two Australian footballers in the national competition were recruited. Preseason groin pain and focal tenderness were recorded, and magnetic resonance imaging of the groin was performed within 1 week of examination. Training restriction and games missed owing to groin pain were documented during the subsequent season. Results Magnetic resonance imaging showed pubic bone marrow edema in 19 of 52 (37%) footballers and linear parasymphyseal T2 hyperintensity in 16 of 52 (31%) footballers. Groin pain restricted training during the season in 22 of 52 (42%) footballers, and 9 of 52 (17%) footballers missed at least 1 game. Preseason pain (P =. 0004), pubic bone tenderness (P =. 02), and linear parasymphyseal T2 hyperintensity (P =. 01) were associated with restricted training capacity during the subsequent season. Preseason groin pain (P =. 03) was associated with missed games, but magnetic resonance imaging findings were not. Conclusion Preseason pubic bone marrow edema, groin pain, and linear parasymphyseal T2 hyperintensity were associated with training restriction, but only preseason groin pain was associated with missed games.