Groin and soft tissue injury

Soft tissue injuries at times can be complex to rehabilitate. Soft tissue injuries around the hip are common and usually brought on through increased forces or blunt force trauma. For example a slip or trip can cause increased muscle activity whilst the patient regains the balance or excessive stretching as they fall. Trauma may be caused if the hip area is struck by something whilst falling.

If a patient presents with groin or thigh pain then the hip joint should be tested to rule out exacerbation of arthritis.

• Mechanism of onset, location of symptoms (within adductors of hip or within quads muscle), severity and longevity of symptoms, limitation to function.

Diagnosis is made on a combination of subjective history and clinical findings.

• Pain on muscle testing or soft tissue stretching
• Consider plain X ray if injury following traumatic event.

• Exclude red flags
• Exclude hip pathology.

Soft tissue injuries can be very painful within the first 2 weeks of injury and then gradually improve with time. Normally these injuries self-limit activity due to pain. A home strengthening program, working within the limitations of pain, should be prescribed from 2 weeks post injury. Referral to MSK can be considered if pain
levels are not reducing after 2 to 3 months of home exercising.

NHS Inform. Soft tissue injury advice.

NHS Inform. Exercises for hip problems.

Diagnostically uncertain.
Symptoms persist beyond 2-3/12 and/or interfere with ADLs consider severity.
Exceptionally severe symptoms.
Clinical concern.