Groin injuries in athletes.

Groin injuries in athletes are being recognised more often in sport, especially in football. In Gothenberg, a study of football injuries, both acute and chronic, revealed that 5% of all injuries were localised in the groin region. Seventeen different teams were studied. Groin pain may be caused by injuries occurring in sports such as soccer, handball, ice hockey, skating, ski-ing, hurdles, high jump, fencing, bowling, horse-riding, etc., due to overloading of the muscles producing microscopic lesions in the muscles, peri6steum, or tendons, and leading to inflammatory reaction. Symptoms may also be caused by complete or incomplete macroscopic lesions, such as disruptions in the groin muscles. Symptoms may be diffuse and uncharacteristic, and it is necessary to establish a broad differential diagnostic background. The most common injuries involve the adductor longus, rectus abdominis, iliopsoas and rectus femoris muscles.