Anatomy & Injury
Groin (Adductors)
The groin refers to the region where the thigh meets the pelvis, and in athletic contexts typically describes the adductor muscle group on the inner thigh. The adductors, primarily the adductor longus, adductor brevis, adductor magnus, and gracilis, are responsible for bringing the leg toward the midline of the body. They also play a significant role in hip flexion, pelvic stabilization, and deceleration during cutting and change-of-direction movements. Groin strains are among the most common injuries in ice hockey, soccer, and American football, and among the most likely to recur if not properly rehabilitated.
Why groin injuries are so common in team sport
The adductors are heavily loaded during high-speed running, especially during the late swing phase when the leg is decelerating and changing direction. They are also loaded eccentrically during lateral movements where the athlete pushes off one leg to change direction. The combination of high velocity, eccentric loading, and the shear forces involved in cutting sport makes the adductor group vulnerable, particularly in athletes with a strength imbalance between the adductors and abductors, or with limited adductor strength relative to their overall athletic demands.
Prevention and S&C application
The Copenhagen adductor exercise has the strongest evidence base for groin injury prevention in team sport athletes. It involves side-lying hip adduction with one leg elevated and supported, producing a high eccentric load on the adductors through a challenging range of motion. Programs that include regular Copenhagen work alongside hip strengthening and progressive change-of-direction loading show meaningful reductions in groin injury rates. Coaches should also assess and address hip adductor-to-abductor strength ratios, which are frequently imbalanced in athletes who have not had targeted adductor work in their programs.
Related terms
Eccentric Training · Return to Play (RTP) · Hip Flexor · Hamstring