CHRONIC GROIN INJURIES IN ATHLETES - RECOMMENDATIONS FOR TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION

Chronic muscle and tendon injuries to the groin are common sports inju ries. The symptoms of groin injuries are often uncharacteristic which can result in a delay in the correct and specific diagnosis being reac hed. The most common injury is the overuse strain resulting in chronic tendinitis of the adductor muscle/tendon units, especially the adduct or longus. The rectus femoris and rectus abdominous muscles and tendon s are also commonly affected. Computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasonography have been widely adopted to diagnose muscl e/tendon injuries to the groin. Ultrasonography has been shown to be a ccurate and sensitive in diagnosing tendon injuries in the groin regio n, especially small partial ruptures of the muscle/tendon unit. Ultras onography has the advantage of being fast, inexpensive and widely avai lable. Normal findings are readily distinguished from pathological fin dings providing valuable pre-operative information, such as location a nd extent of the injury. The differential diagnoses are many and often difficult to reach. The most commonly over-looked differential diagno ses are chronic prostatitis and hernias. A multidisciplinary approach is valuable in many cases. The recommended treatment is a well planned and gradually increased rehabilitation programme during the first sta ges. Surgery for acute injuries is rarely indicated. Surgery, for exam ple tenotomy of the adductor longus, has given satisfactory results in many athletes when nonsurgical treatment has failed.