Long-standing adductor-related groin pain

This single blinded, prospective, randomised controlled trial study was carried out to whether or not a multi-modal treatment program (MMT) is more effective than exercise therapy (ET) for the treatment of long-standing adductor-related groin pain.

Athletes with pain at the proximal insertion of the adductor muscles on palpation and resisted adduction for at least two months were included this study.
ET: a home-based ET and a structured return to running program with instruction on three occasions from a sports physical therapist.
MMT: Heat, manual therapy followed by stretching and a return to running program.
Outcome was assessed at 0, 6, 16 and 24 weeks.
Athletes who received MMT returned to sports quicker (12.8 weeks) than athletes in the ET group (17.3 weeks). Only 50-55% of athletes in both groups made a full return to sports.

The multi-modal program resulted in a significantly quicker return to sports than ET plus return to running but neither treatment was very effective > from Wier et al.; Manual Therapy 16 (2011) 148-154. All rights reserved to Elsevier Ltd.