Rugby groin injuries

A groin strain or pull is a stretch, tear or the complete rupture of the muscle called the adductor longus, which runs from the pubic bone to the inside of the knee. Groin injuries are more common in forwards and may occur during rucks and mauls, in the scrum or during tackling. These injuries often occur when the player changes direction quickly or stops suddenly. Many players have experienced a groin pull when initiating a sprint or leaping to catch a ball in a lineout. A sudden pain is felt in the groin area.

Groin strains will reoccur often if they are not allowed to heal and rehabilitate fully. Groin pulls can keep athletes out of action for weeks and even months at a time.

Gilmore's Groin is another fairly common injury in kicking sports such as rugby and soccer. This condition is named after Jerry Gilmore, the London surgeon who first recognised this syndrome in 1980. It is also known as a Sports Hernia, but Gilmore's Groin is a more apt title because, strictly speaking, there is no true herniation. This injury is characterised by damage to the tissue that surrounds the inguinal canal.

Common symptoms and signs are abdominal and groin pain following sport activity that then gets progressively worse. There is pain when the legs are squeezed together or when coughing and sneezing. The injured player will be stiff and sore after the game. The day after sports activity, getting out of bed or a car will be difficult.

Needless to say, getting hit in the groin by a knee or another player’s head is one of the most severe pains that a man can suffer and often result in the player writhing on the ground. In more severe cases, the player will vomit. Despite the vulnerable position of the testicles, severe testicular trauma (such as a rupture) is relatively uncommon. Mobility of the scrotum may be one reason severe injury is rare. Another reason is the spongy consistency of testes which absorbs some of the shock (ouch!).  

(Health24, September 2011)