Gilmores Groin

What is Gilmore’s Groin (Sports Hernia)?

Gilmore’s Groin, often referred to as a sports hernia, is a soft tissue injury affecting the lower abdominal wall and groin region. Unlike a traditional hernia, it does not always involve a visible bulge.

The condition usually involves damage to the muscles, tendons, or connective tissues around the inguinal canal, particularly where the abdominal muscles attach near the pelvis.

It commonly affects athletes who perform movements involving:

• Repetitive kicking
• Sudden twisting or turning
• Sprinting and rapid changes of direction

Sports commonly associated with this injury include football, rugby, hockey, and running-based sports.

How Does Gilmore’s Groin Happen?

Gilmore’s Groin usually develops due to repetitive stress or overuse of the groin and lower abdominal muscles.

The injury occurs in a region known as the aponeurosis, where several abdominal muscles meet and form the inguinal ligament.

These muscles include:

• Transversus abdominis
• Internal oblique muscles
• External oblique muscles

When excessive stress occurs in this region, the external oblique muscle fibres may tear, enlarging the natural opening in the muscle. This can weaken the abdominal wall and create instability in the groin area.

In some cases, the injury develops gradually due to repeated strain, while in others it may occur suddenly during a powerful movement.

What Are the Symptoms of Gilmore’s Groin?

Symptoms of a sports hernia usually develop gradually and worsen during physical activity.

Common symptoms include:

• Groin pain during running, kicking, or twisting
• Pain in the lower abdomen or pubic area
• Tightness in the groin muscles
• Weakness in the lower abdominal or groin muscles
• Pain when coughing or sneezing
• Reduced hip and groin mobility
• Difficulty returning to sport
• Tenderness around the pubic bone or inguinal ligament

The pain often improves with rest but returns during sports activity.

What Should I Do If I Have Groin Pain During Sport?

If you experience persistent groin pain during sports, it is important to seek assessment from a physiotherapist or doctor.

Early assessment helps determine the exact cause of the pain and prevents the condition from becoming chronic.

A healthcare professional may:

• Assess your medical history and symptoms
• Perform a physical examination
• Order imaging tests such as MRI scans if necessary

MRI imaging helps confirm the diagnosis and identify any additional injuries in the groin region.

Physiotherapy Treatment for Gilmore’s Groin

Physiotherapy is usually the first line of treatment for sports hernia and is highly effective for most patients.

At ACE Physio Sports in Singapore, physiotherapists create personalised rehabilitation programmes designed to restore strength, stability, and mobility.

Physiotherapy treatment may include:

• Core strengthening exercises to stabilise the pelvis and trunk
• Groin strengthening exercises targeting the adductor muscles
• Hip mobility and stretching exercises
• Pelvic stability training
• Sport-specific rehabilitation drills
• Gradual return-to-sport programmes
• Education to prevent recurrence

If conservative treatment is unsuccessful, surgery may sometimes be recommended.

Key Physiotherapy Exercises for Sports Hernia

Core Strengthening Exercises

Core muscles help stabilise the pelvis and spine.

Important muscles include:

• Transversus abdominis
• Multifidus

These muscles act like a natural corset to support the lower spine and pelvis.

Physiotherapists teach patients how to activate these muscles correctly before progressing to more advanced strengthening exercises.

Groin Strengthening Exercises

Strengthening the adductor muscles is essential to restore groin stability.

Exercises target:

• Long adductor muscles
• Short adductor muscles

Gradual strengthening helps reduce pain and prevent reinjury.

Hip Flexibility Exercises

Maintaining flexibility around the hip joint and groin muscles is important for injury prevention.

Physiotherapy includes progressive stretching programmes for:

• Hip flexors
• Adductors
• Gluteal muscles

Sports-Specific Rehabilitation

Once pain and strength improve, rehabilitation progresses to sport-specific movements, such as:

• Sprinting drills
• Direction change exercises
• Kicking mechanics

This ensures a safe return to competitive sport.

What Should I Avoid With Gilmore’s Groin?

If you suspect a sports hernia, avoid activities that aggravate symptoms.

These include:

• Sprinting and sudden direction changes
• Powerful kicking movements
• Heavy lifting that strains the abdominal muscles
• Returning to sport too quickly without rehabilitation

Proper physiotherapy guidance is essential for safe recovery.

Can Gilmore’s Groin Cause Long-Term Problems?

If left untreated, sports hernia can lead to:

• Chronic groin pain
• Recurrent injuries
• Reduced athletic performance
• Difficulty returning to sport

Early physiotherapy treatment greatly improves recovery outcomes.

Why Choose ACE Physio Sports

At ACE Physio Sports – Singapore, our physiotherapists specialise in sports injury rehabilitation and musculoskeletal physiotherapy.

Our clinic offers:

• Comprehensive groin injury assessment
• Personalised rehabilitation programmes
• Advanced sports physiotherapy treatments
• Safe return-to-sport rehabilitation

Conveniently located near East Coast Road, we treat patients from Marine Parade, Katong, Joo Chiat, Siglap, and Bedok.

Book an Appointment

To arrange an appointment, please call +65 81535374 or visit acephysiosport.com.