You have indicated that you have groin pain

Below are some specific descriptions of symptoms related to a running groin injury or groin pain.

Decide which description most closely matches the groin problem you are experiencing then click on
the button next to it. You will be presented with a likely diagnosis for your groin injury and advice as to
what to do.

You can diagnose other running injuries here.

  • Step 1
  • Step 2
  • Step 3 - current step
  • Step 4

Click on the description that most closely matches your symptoms:

Symptom 1

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  • A dull ache deep in the general area of the thigh that occurs after running long distances, and worsens the more you run.
  • The pain slowly increases during your run, reaching a peak at the end of your run.
  • On successive runs the pain comes on at an earlier stage and becomes severe sooner, eventually forcing you to finish your run early.
  • Pain may be referred into the knee.
  • Pain may become worse if you sit on a bench, table or chair, and let your thigh hang over the edge of it, particularly if weight is then applied downwards onto the thigh – this is called the hanging test.
  • X-ray may or may not show up the stress fracture but a bone scan or MRI should give a more accurate diagnosis.

Symptom 2

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  • Deep aching pain in the groin, buttock, front of the hip or the outside of the hip (that cannot necessarily be pinpointed), especially with movement.
  • Stiffness in the hip, particularly in the morning, which decreases as you start to move around and warm up.
  • Doing a squat may be painful or stiff, and you may not be able to get all the way down.
  • You may occasionally get a sharp ‘catching’ pain on certain movements.
  • Symptoms tend to develop slowly over time.
  • The hip does not show a full range of movement, and may be painful at the end of your movement range.
  • You may have noticed that you are starting to limp, and favour the other leg.

Symptom 3

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  • Dull pain (and often tenderness) on the top of the pubic bone (which runs horizontally across the groin) on one side or the other, not normally in the middle.
  • Pain occurs on rising from the sitting position, coughing, sneezing, during running, and when performing sit-ups.
  • More common in runners who have been doing an intensive routine of core strengthening such as sit-ups.

Symptom 4

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  • Pain in the groin when you run.
  • Pain in the groin when coughing or sneezing, or straining on the toilet.
  • A small bulge either side of the groin which is more evident when standing than lying.
  • Stretching and rest do not help the pain.

Symptom 5

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  • Pain in the groin while running and walking.
  • Pain is aggravated when running downhill and uphill.
  • It may be difficult to take a full stride.
  • Pain when walking up and down stairs.
  • Because the muscle is so deep in the body, locating it with your finger may be very difficult.
  • Lying on your back, flex your knee to about 30 degrees. Pain will occur when you try to lift your leg with someone resisting you.
  • Sometimes there is a sensation of tightness and swelling in the groin.
  • The pain may disappear during a run only to recur afterwards.
  • Pain in the hip and thigh region, as well as hip stiffness and in some cases a clicking or snapping hip.
  • You may also have lower back pain.

Symptom 6

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  • Pain, tightness or cramp in the inner thigh at the groin.
  • A sudden sharp pain, or a slow gradually occuring pain in the groin area or inner thigh during running.
  • Pain in the inner thigh when suddenly changing direction (e.g. to get out of the way of someone) on a run.
  • Bruising or swelling (this might not occur until a couple of days after the initial injury).
  • Pain or inability to squeeze the legs together or perhaps to lift the leg up straight when lying or standing.
  • Pain on stretching your groin.
  • There may be a specific point on the bone in your groin that is tender.
  • Walking up and down stairs may be painful.

Symptom 7

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  • Pain and tenderness at the front of the hip, just below the bony lump at the front of your pelvis below your waist.
  • Swelling may be present at the site of pain.
  • Pain when you try to lift the knee up to the chest against resistance.
  • Stretching the quadriceps muscle is painful.
  • Stiffness after running.
  • Pain is often there at the beginning of a run, but then subsides only to reoccur later, and then continue for a while after exercise.