Investigation of groin pain in amateur soccer players in a 37-week period

Abstract

This study aimed to determine groin pain incidence and the distribution of groin pain in amateur male soccer players during a period of 37 weeks. A total of 39 players from two teams were recruited in this study and data were collected from January to October 2017. Overall, groin pain was reported in 17 players (43.5%), all of whom had a previous history of groin pain during their high school. On the other hand, players who had no history of groin pain did not report groin pain in this study. Recurrence of groin pain was reported in 58.8% (n＝10) of the players. Of a total of 50 cases of groin pains (4.36/1000 player hours), 27 pains (7.61/1000 player hours) occurred in the game phase and 23 pains (2.90/1000 player hours) occurred in the preparation phase; moreover, time loss groin pain was observed in 11 incidences (0.96/1000 player hours), and no time loss groin pain was observed in 39 incidences (3.40/1000 player hours). Regarding severity of groin pain, 40.7% of the players were classified as having moderate pain (1.39/1000 player hours) in the game phase, and 39.1% of the players reported minimal pain (2.54/1000 player hours) in the preparation phase. Groin pain was commonly adductor-related (52.0%), and the duration of pain was 11.3 days. The incidence of groin pain was highest in March (time loss: 0.26/1000 player hours, no time loss: 0.44/1000 player hours), which was the end of the first preparation phase, and August (no time loss: 1.41/1000 player hours), which was the start of the second game phase. The entire season showed groin pain with either time loss or no time loss. In conclusion, the incidence, location of pain, and prevalence of groin pain in amateur players were similar to those in professional players.