Adductor Strains: What Physical Therapists Need to Know

By dpope2020

August 7, 2026

adductor squeeze test, adductor strain, adductor strain treatment, dan pope, fitness pain free, fix groin pain, groin, groin injury, groin injury basketball, groin injury recovery, groin injury recovery exercises, groin injury recovery football, groin pain, groin pain exercises, groin pain relief, groin pain running, groin pain treatment, groin strain, hip flexor, hip flexor stretch, hip pain, injury, overcome groin pain, pain, pain relief, physical therapy, physiotherapy

Adductor Strains: What Physical Therapists Need to Know

To go along with today's episode I have a nice infographic to share...

Sign up to receive FREE: Adductor Strain - The Evidence Based Cheat Sheet

Click HERE to Download FREE

In today's video we go over Adductor Strains: What Physical Therapists Need to Know:

Adductor strains are one of the most common groin injuries in athletes—but accurately diagnosing them requires more than just finding pain with resisted adduction.

In this video, we break down what physical therapists need to know about adductor strain injuries, including:

• Epidemiology & common sports
• Adductor anatomy and the importance of the adductor longus
• Common mechanisms of injury
• Risk factors for adductor strains
• Expected recovery timelines & recurrence rates
• Prognostic factors
• Clinical examination & diagnostic testing
• When MRI may actually be necessary
• Differential diagnosis of athletic groin pain
• The Doha Agreement classification of groin pain

🎓 Want more evidence-based rehab education, clinical mentorship and CEUs? Check out FPF Insiders Academy: [CLICK HERE]

TIMESTAMPS

  • 00:00 Adductor Strains: What PTs Need to Know
  • 00:30 How Common Are Adductor Strains?
  • 02:22 Adductor Strains in Soccer & Football
  • 02:57 Recovery Time & High Reinjury Rates
  • 04:15 Adductor Anatomy Every PT Should Know
  • 04:50 Why the Adductor Longus Matters
  • 05:36 How Adductor Strains Happen
  • 06:41 The Adductor Longus Can Mimic Hip Flexor Pain
  • 07:33 Risk Factors for Adductor Strains
  • 09:26 Typical Clinical Presentation
  • 09:43 Return-to-Sport Timelines by Injury Grade
  • 10:31 What Predicts a Longer Recovery?
  • 11:15 Clinical Exam vs MRI
  • 12:22 When Surgery May Be Considered
  • 15:21 Don’t Miss Other Causes of Groin Pain
  • 16:00 Can Adductor Pain Refer to the Testicles?
  • 17:12 How to Diagnose an Adductor Strain
  • 17:40 Inspection & Palpation
  • 18:41 A Powerful Finding for Ruling Out Adductor Injury
  • 19:12 Best Provocative Tests for Adductor Strains
  • 20:04 Adductor Squeeze Test Variations
  • 20:50 Differential Diagnosis of Groin Pain
  • 21:08 MRI, Ultrasound & Injury Grading
  • 21:42 The Doha Agreement for Groin Pain
  • 21:58 Adductor vs Iliopsoas vs Inguinal vs Pubic Pain
  • 22:46 Key Clinical Takeaways

I groined my pull...

- Dan Pope DPT,OCS,CSCS

Want to support me and decide topics for future episodes?  Click HERE to sign up for FPF "Insiders" for just a dollar. You'll gain access to 100+ webinars, e-books and complete guides.  Plus, you'll get private access to the "Insiders" Facebook group where you can have all of your questions answered by me.  

Looking for other ways to support me that are 100% free?

  • Like, comment and share on youtube, facebook and instagram 
  • Leave a 5-star review on apple podcasts

Thank you!

Dan Pope DPT, OCS, CSCS

References: 

  1. Quintana-Cepedal M, Maniar N, Del Valle Soto M, Crespo I, Olmedillas H. Epidemiology of hip and groin injuries in sport: a systematic review with meta-analysis and meta-regression of 5914 injuries from over 9 million exposure hours. Br J Sports Med. 2026 Mar 23;60(7):543-551. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2024-109441. PMID: 41565445.

  2. Eckard TG, Padua DA, Dompier TP, Dalton SL, Thorborg K, Kerr ZY. Epidemiology of Hip Flexor and Hip Adductor Strains in National Collegiate Athletic Association Athletes, 2009/2010-2014/2015. Am J Sports Med. 2017 Oct;45(12):2713-2722. doi: 10.1177/0363546517716179. Epub 2017 Jul 26. PMID: 28745561.

  3. Ekstrand J, Hägglund M, Waldén M. Epidemiology of muscle injuries in professional football (soccer). Am J Sports Med. 2011 Jun;39(6):1226-32. doi: 10.1177/0363546510395879. Epub 2011 Feb 18. PMID: 21335353.

  4. Makovicka JL, Chhabra A, Patel KA, Tummala SV, Hartigan DE. A Decade of Hip Injuries in National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Players: An Epidemiologic Study Using National Collegiate Athletic Association Surveillance Data. J Athl Train. 2019 May;54(5):483-488. doi: 10.4085/1062-6050-59-18. Epub 2019 May 14. PMID: 31084503; PMCID: PMC6602372.

  5. Farrell SG, Hatem M, Bharam S. Acute Adductor Muscle Injury: A Systematic Review on Diagnostic Imaging, Treatment, and Prevention. Am J Sports Med. 2023 Nov;51(13):3591-3603. doi: 10.1177/03635465221140923. Epub 2023 Jan 20. PMID: 36661128.

  6. Eckard TG, Padua DA, Dompier TP, Dalton SL, Thorborg K, Kerr ZY. Epidemiology of Hip Flexor and Hip Adductor Strains in National Collegiate Athletic Association Athletes, 2009/2010-2014/2015. Am J Sports Med. 2017 Oct;45(12):2713-2722. doi: 10.1177/0363546517716179. Epub 2017 Jul 26. PMID: 28745561.

  7. Nicholas SJ, Tyler TF. Adductor muscle strains in sport. Sports Med. 2002;32(5):339-44. doi: 10.2165/00007256-200232050-00005. PMID: 11929360.

  8. Serner A, Tol JL, Jomaah N, Weir A, Whiteley R, Thorborg K, Robinson M, Hölmich P. Diagnosis of Acute Groin Injuries: A Prospective Study of 110 Athletes. Am J Sports Med. 2015 Aug;43(8):1857-64. doi: 10.1177/0363546515585123. Epub 2015 May 14. PMID: 25977522.

  9. Zuckerbraun BS, Cyr AR, Mauro CS. Groin Pain Syndrome Known as Sports Hernia: A Review. JAMA Surg. 2020;155(4):340–348. doi:10.1001/jamasurg.2019.5863

  10. Almeida MO, Silva BNG, Andriolo RB, Atallah ÁN, Peccin MS. Conservative interventions for treating exercise‐related musculotendinous, ligamentous and osseous groin pain. Cochrane Database of Systematic Serner A, Weir A, Tol JL, Thorborg K, Roemer F, Guermazi A, Hölmich P. Can standardised clinical examination of athletes with acute groin injuries predict the presence and location of MRI findings? Br J Sports Med. 2016 Dec;50(24):1541-1547. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2016-096290. Epub 2016 Aug 16. PMID: 27531521.

  11. Weir A, Brukner P, Delahunt E, Ekstrand J, Griffin D, Khan KM, Lovell G, Meyers WC, Muschaweck U, Orchard J, Paajanen H, Philippon M, Reboul G, Robinson P, Schache AG, Schilders E, Serner A, Silvers H, Thorborg K, Tyler T, Verrall G, de Vos RJ, Vuckovic Z, Hölmich P. Doha agreement meeting on terminology and definitions in groin pain in athletes. Br J Sports Med. 2015 Jun;49(12):768-74. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2015-094869. PMID: 26031643; PMCID: PMC4484366