Groin Strain Physiotherapy
Inner-thigh pain after kicking, changing direction or slipping may involve a groin strain. Assessment helps clarify the problem and plan a return to comfortable activity.
A groin strain often involves the adductor muscles on the inside of the thigh. Symptoms may follow a sudden movement or build as sporting demands increase. Not every groin pain is muscular: a lump, testicular symptoms or feeling unwell needs medical assessment. At our Newham clinic in Plaistow, we discuss the injury and its impact on everyday movement before deciding whether physiotherapy is appropriate.
This guide is general information and does not replace a clinical assessment.
- Your clinic
- Newham clinic & directions
Newham Leisure Centre, 281 Prince Regent Lane, Plaistow, London E13 8SD
- Self-pay
£60 for a 30-minute physiotherapy appointment.
Prices & self-pay- Health insurance
Cover depends on your plan and chosen physiotherapist.
Insurance & cash-plan guidance
Common Symptoms
Tenderness along the inner thigh or where it meets the groin.
Pain when bringing the legs together or taking a wider step.
Discomfort with kicking, turning, lifting the knee or climbing stairs.
Bruising or swelling after a more sudden strain.
Seek Prompt Medical Advice If You Have
Go to A&E immediately or call 999 for sudden severe testicle pain, or testicle pain with sickness or tummy pain.
Seek immediate hospital help for testicle pain lasting over an hour or continuing at rest; do not book routine physiotherapy first.
Contact NHS 111 promptly for a painful groin lump, vomiting, bloating or fever with a suspected hernia.
Arrange GP assessment for a new groin lump or unexplained persistent pain; a muscle-strain label should not replace medical review.
If you are unsure, call NHS 111 or seek urgent medical care.
Assessment
Discuss the sporting movement or slip, pain location and any non-muscular symptoms.
Check comfortable hip movement and appropriate inner-thigh strength tests.
Review walking and tasks such as stairs before considering more demanding movement.
Explain the working findings, uncertainty and any need for GP assessment.
Treatment
Adapt kicking, direction changes and other provoking activities while symptoms settle.
Introduce tolerable adductor and hip-strengthening work, progressing gradually.
Rebuild movements relevant to your sport rather than stopping at comfortable straight-line walking.
Set practical review points and agree what to do if progress stalls.
Aftercare & self-management
At your appointment, agree which exercises to do, how often to practise them and when to review your progress.
Avoid repeatedly testing the injury with a hard kick or wide lunge.
Keep comfortable movement in your day instead of either complete inactivity or painful training.
Follow your agreed exercises and record whether symptoms remain worse afterwards.
Separate increases in running, turning and kicking so you can recognise which change is too demanding.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a sports hernia the same as a groin strain?+
No. The term can be used inconsistently, and groin symptoms have several causes. A new lump or testicular symptoms need medical assessment rather than assuming a sporting muscle injury.
Can I train if jogging does not hurt?+
Jogging does not test the same demands as kicking or cutting sideways. Your return plan should include the actual movements your sport requires, building them gradually.
Will physiotherapy only involve stretching?+
No. Appropriate strengthening and changes to activity are often part of rehabilitation. What is suitable depends on the assessment; treatment should not be a standard stretch programme for everyone.
Can I discuss a recurring groin problem?+
Yes. Bring your previous medical findings and training history. We can review your goals and explain the options, including further medical advice where the symptoms do not fit a straightforward strain.
Related Pages
Explore related treatments and condition guides.
Further reading
For public health information, self-care guidance and advice on when to seek medical help:
- Berkshire Healthcare NHS: groin strain
- NHS: testicle pain and when to get help
- NHS: hernia
- NHS: Sprains and strains
About your care at Nexus: meet our physiotherapists and read our clinical governance information.