Groin pain can make walking, running, changing direction, climbing stairs, exercising, and participating in sports uncomfortable and limiting. Whether your injury occurred during a soccer game, hockey practice, gym workout, or daily activity, proper assessment and rehabilitation are essential for a full recovery.

At Physiomobility Health Group, we provide evidence-based groin injury treatment in North York and Don Mills designed to help patients:

• Reduce groin and hip pain
• Restore strength and flexibility
• Improve mobility and movement control
• Return safely to sports and exercise
• Prevent future injuries

Our multidisciplinary team combines physiotherapy, chiropractic care, massage therapy, acupuncture, and exercise rehabilitation to create individualized treatment plans tailored to each patient’s condition and goals.

Whether you are an athlete, weekend warrior, or active adult, we can help you recover safely and confidently.

What Is a Groin Injury?

The groin is made up of several muscles, tendons, ligaments, and joints that work together to stabilize and move the hip and pelvis.

A groin injury commonly involves:

• Adductor muscle strains
• Hip flexor strains
• Tendon injuries
• Sports-related muscle injuries
• Pelvic and hip dysfunction

Groin injuries are particularly common in sports that involve:

• Sprinting
• Kicking
• Cutting and pivoting
• Sudden acceleration and deceleration

Common sports include:

• Soccer
• Hockey
• Basketball
• Tennis
• Football
• Rugby

Common Symptoms of a Groin Injury

Symptoms may include:

• Pain in the inner thigh
• Groin tenderness
• Pain with running
• Pain during sports
• Difficulty changing direction
• Hip stiffness
• Pain lifting the leg
• Weakness in the groin muscles
• Pain during kicking
• Reduced athletic performance

Some individuals also experience:

• Pain when getting out of a car
• Discomfort climbing stairs
• Groin tightness
• Pain after exercise
• Difficulty performing explosive movements

What Causes Groin Injuries?

Several factors may contribute to groin pain and injury.

Sudden Muscle Strain

Many groin injuries occur when the muscles are stretched beyond their capacity during:

• Sprinting
• Kicking
• Sudden direction changes
• Explosive movements

Muscle Weakness

Weakness in the:

• Adductors
• Gluteal muscles
• Core muscles
• Hip stabilizers

may increase injury risk.

Limited Hip Mobility

Restricted hip movement may increase stress on the groin muscles and surrounding tissues.

Sports Participation

Athletes who perform repetitive cutting, kicking, and sprinting movements are at higher risk of groin injuries.

Previous Injury

A history of groin injuries may increase the likelihood of recurrence if underlying factors are not addressed.

Common Types of Groin Injuries

Adductor Strain

The adductor muscles run along the inner thigh and help bring the leg toward the body.

Adductor strains are one of the most common groin injuries in athletes.

Symptoms may include:

• Inner thigh pain
• Tenderness
• Pain during running
• Pain squeezing the legs together

Hip Flexor Strain

Hip flexor injuries affect muscles responsible for lifting the leg and stabilizing the hip.

Symptoms often include:

• Front hip pain
• Groin discomfort
• Pain with running or kicking

Athletic Groin Pain

Some athletes experience persistent groin pain that involves multiple structures around the hip and pelvis.

A comprehensive assessment is often necessary to identify contributing factors.

Why Physiotherapy Is Important for Groin Injuries

Simply resting a groin injury may temporarily reduce symptoms but often fails to address:

• Muscle weakness
• Mobility restrictions
• Movement dysfunction
• Sport-specific demands

Physiotherapy helps identify and address the underlying causes contributing to pain and injury.

Physiotherapy for Groin Injuries

At Physiomobility Health Group, treatment plans are individualized based on:

• Injury severity
• Pain levels
• Sport participation
• Strength deficits
• Mobility restrictions
• Functional goals

Treatment may include:

• Strengthening exercises
• Mobility exercises
• Manual therapy
• Core stabilization
• Running retraining
• Sport-specific rehabilitation
• Return-to-sport progression

The goal is restoring strength, mobility, and confidence while reducing the risk of reinjury.

Strengthening for Groin Injury Recovery

Exercise rehabilitation commonly focuses on strengthening:

• Adductor muscles
• Gluteal muscles
• Hip stabilizers
• Core muscles
• Lower extremity strength

Improved strength may help:

• Improve athletic performance
• Reduce injury risk
• Improve movement efficiency
• Improve stability

Core & Pelvic Stability Training

The core, pelvis, and hips work together during movement.

Rehabilitation may include:

• Core strengthening
• Pelvic control exercises
• Balance training
• Functional movement retraining

Improved stability may reduce excessive strain on the groin region.

Improving Hip Mobility

Restricted hip mobility may contribute to:

• Groin pain
• Muscle overload
• Movement compensation

Treatment may focus on improving:

• Hip rotation
• Hip flexion
• Hip extension
• Functional movement patterns

Improved mobility often helps support athletic performance and recovery.

Return to Sport Rehabilitation

Returning to sports too quickly may increase the risk of reinjury.

Sports rehabilitation may include:

• Running progression
• Agility training
• Change-of-direction drills
• Sprint progression
• Sport-specific exercises

The goal is helping athletes safely return to competition and training.

Groin Injuries in Soccer & Hockey Players

Groin injuries are particularly common in:

• Soccer players
• Hockey players
• Skaters
• Athletes performing repetitive cutting movements

These sports place significant demands on the adductor muscles and hip stabilizers.

Rehabilitation focuses on restoring strength, mobility, and performance-specific movement patterns.

Manual Therapy for Groin Pain

Manual therapy may help improve:

• Joint mobility
• Soft tissue flexibility
• Movement comfort
• Functional mobility

Treatment approaches may include:

• Soft tissue therapy
• Joint mobilization
• Movement-based treatment techniques

Manual therapy is typically combined with active rehabilitation and strengthening.

Massage Therapy for Groin & Hip Tightness

Massage therapy may help:

• Reduce muscle tension
• Improve circulation
• Improve flexibility
• Improve recovery

Massage therapy is often incorporated into multidisciplinary rehabilitation programs.

Acupuncture for Groin Pain

Some individuals incorporate acupuncture into their treatment plan to help:

• Reduce pain
• Improve comfort
• Address muscle tension

Treatment recommendations are individualized based on patient needs and goals.

Why Choose Physiomobility for Groin Injury Treatment?

At Physiomobility Health Group, we provide:

• Evidence-based physiotherapy
• One-on-one rehabilitation
• Sports injury expertise
• Chiropractic care
• Massage therapy
• Acupuncture
• Functional movement assessment
• Exercise-based recovery programs
• Multidisciplinary care

Conveniently located in CF Shops at Don Mills, we proudly serve patients throughout:

• North York
• Don Mills
• Bayview Village
• York Mills
• Leaside
• Midtown Toronto

We help athletes, active adults, runners, soccer players, hockey players, and individuals with hip and groin pain return to the activities they enjoy.

Frequently Asked Questions About Groin Injuries

What does a groin strain feel like?

A groin strain often causes pain in the inner thigh or groin area, especially during walking, running, kicking, or changing direction.

Can physiotherapy help a groin injury?

Yes. Physiotherapy is one of the most effective treatments for restoring strength, mobility, and function following a groin injury.

How long does a groin injury take to heal?

Recovery timelines vary depending on:

• Injury severity
• Activity demands
• Strength deficits
• Mobility restrictions
• Rehabilitation consistency

Can I continue exercising with a groin injury?

Activity modifications are often necessary. Your physiotherapist can help determine which activities are appropriate during recovery.

Why does my groin hurt when I run?

Running places significant demands on the adductor and hip muscles. Weakness, mobility restrictions, or previous injury may contribute to symptoms.

Are groin injuries common in soccer players?

Yes. Groin strains are among the most common injuries in soccer and other sports involving kicking and rapid changes in direction.

Can groin injuries come back?

Yes. Reinjury risk may increase if strength deficits, mobility restrictions, or movement dysfunction are not addressed.

What muscles are involved in groin injuries?

The adductor muscles, hip flexors, abdominal muscles, and other hip stabilizers may contribute to groin pain and dysfunction.

Start Your Groin Injury Recovery in North York

Groin pain can limit your ability to walk, run, compete, exercise, and enjoy an active lifestyle.

At Physiomobility Health Group, our team is committed to helping patients in North York and Don Mills recover through individualized physiotherapy and multidisciplinary rehabilitation programs designed to reduce pain, restore strength, improve mobility, and support long-term recovery.

Whether you are dealing with an adductor strain, sports injury, hip flexor injury, or chronic groin pain, we are here to help you move better, recover stronger, and return to the activities you love.