What is Gilmore's Groin?

Gilmore's groin, also known as a sports hernia, is a common injury that occurs among athletes especially those who participate in sports involving sudden and twisting movements, and kicking e.g. soccer, gaelic football and rugby. The injury describes pain which occurs unilaterally around the groin and pubic area, and is normally chronic in nature.

Gilmore's groin is also known as a hernia. The difference between the 2 is hernias have visible signs. For instance, visible signs are associated with a hernia symptoms. With the correct and appropriate preventative measures such as pre-season stability and agility training, the incidence of this injury can be reduced amongst the sporting population mentioned above.

What causes a Gilmore's groin injury?

The Gilmore's groin injury describes a tear in the oblique muscle tendon. This causes an enlargement of the superficial inguinal ring and possibly a tear in the conjoint tendon.

Sudden twisting and change of directions involved in football and soccer, combined with periods of high intensity running can put extensive strain and pressure on abdominal and groin muscles which provide stability to the pelvis when kicking and changing direction. This over time, can lead to tearing of the oblique aponeurosis and conjoint tendon.

Symptoms of this type of groin injury include:

• Pain in the groin during sporting activities

• Stiffness or soreness the day after the injury

• Decreased range of movement

• Pain when coughing or sneezing

• Decreased speed and ability to accelerate

How can Physiotherapy help this injury?

In the early stages of injury, physiotherapy can help in managing pain and maintaining current level of function and strength.

Your physiotherapist will assess the severity of the injury, range of motion, lumbopelvic stability, hip and abdominal strength.Your rehabilitation program is based on finding. These findings can be formulated to assist in the restoration strength and improvement of lower limb neuro dynamics.

Exercise programs may focus on training the deep stabilisers of the pelvis. They gradually incorporate activation of these muscles into more functional, sport specific movement patterns. Hip strength - focusing on increased activity of glut medius and minimus, can allow decrease overuse of adductors and hip flexors, while improving hip strength and in turn speed and acceleration.

Here at Ballsbridge Physiotherapy Clinic, our expert physiotherapists are trained to treating various sports related injuries. We offer an extensive biomechanical assessment to all patients to help you identify weak areas in sport specific movement patterns, to assist in prevention and recovery from injury. If you would like to book an appointment, contact us here.