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Epidemiology of Groin Injuries in Athletes

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Book cover Sports Hernia and Athletic Pubalgia

Abstract

Groin injuries are a major challenge in sports medicine. Groin injuries occur in various anatomical structures. The typical groin injury involves one or more muscle-tendinous structures in the groin region, usually involving the adductors, the iliopsoas, or the abdominals. Differences in injury patterns between sports and in clinical definitions and examination techniques may explain some of the variance seen across studies. Some consistency, however, does seem to emerge especially in soccer where groin injuries have been prospectively and systematically registered and investigated during the last three decades. Diagnostic imaging seems to provide some information concerning specific injuries of the musculoskeletal structures around the pubic symphysis; however, the significance of these findings is still unknown with a large proportion of these findings also being present in asymptomatic athletes. Future epidemiological studies of sports other than men’s football and ice hockey are needed to understand how big the problem is outside these sports including important subgroups such as female and adolescent athletes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Arthroscopic Center Amager, Sports Orthopedic Research Center – Copenhagen, Copenhagen University Hospital, Amager-Hvidovre, Italiensvej 1, Copenhagen, 2300 S, Denmark

    Per Hölmich & Kristian Thorborg

  2. Aspetar Sports Groin Pain Center, Qatar Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Doha, Qatar

    Per Hölmich

Authors
  1. Per Hölmich
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  2. Kristian Thorborg
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Correspondence to Per Hölmich .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Alfred R. Shands Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, Head Orthopedic Team Physician, Director, Sports Medicine Fellowship Program, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA

    David R. Diduch

  2. Team Surgeon, St. Louis Blues, Professor of Surgery, Department of Surgery, Section of Minimally Invasive Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA

    L. Michael Brunt

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Hölmich, P., Thorborg, K. (2014). Epidemiology of Groin Injuries in Athletes. In: Diduch, D., Brunt, L. (eds) Sports Hernia and Athletic Pubalgia. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-7421-1_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-7421-1_2

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