Groin

Groin

Osteitis Pubis

Osteitis Pubis is an overuse injury that leads to persistent groin pain most commonly seen in athletes involved in sports such as football, rugby, athletics, hockey, marathon runners and soccer. The cause of the injury is most often thought to be from instability/poor control of the lumbosacral region which leads to shearing of the two ends of the pubic symphysis as they join at the front.

This excessive movement of the joint causes stresses on the bone that creates pain in the groin and upper thigh region. Although this is an overuse injury that is the result of stress over a long period of time, it is not uncommon for the pain to commence after a specific incident.

Patients can also develop osteitis pubis due to an excessive amount of abdominal muscle contractions, like repetitive sit-ups, or after inadequate rehabilitation of other injuries, such as adductor tendinopathy.

Osteitis Pubis is often a difficult injury to treat and may require a lengthy period of rest. Initially, management requires rest to allow for inflammation of the area to reduce before commencing specific core and pelvis stabilisation exercises that your physiotherapist at City Physiotherapy can guide you through. Once you have achieved satisfactory levels of control and strength in core areas and adjacent muscles are non-painful you are able to return slowly to activities such as slow jogging and eventually progress to one-sided activities like kicking.

It is not uncommon for this condition to take up to three months to heal.

Using Ice therapy and anti-inflammatory medication can assist in the reduction of inflammation and pain of osteitis pubis. Rest and medications on their own will not completely heal this condition.  Your City Physiotherapy Physiotherapist will give you an appropriate rehab exercise program to address any weakness and asymmetries that contributed to the development of this condition.

If you are experiencing groin pain please book an appointment at City Physiotherapy, the earlier Osteitis Pubis is detected the less likely it is to take a long time to heal!

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