Pain in SI joint and Groin

[SMoney]

Hi, i'm new to the forum and am looking for some help and advice while I wait to see a physio.

I'm an amateur footballer and at the end of last season i started having problems around the hip and hip flexor area. I cant be sure, but i think the problems may have originated from landing awkwardly on my hip/bottom during a game around about the end of May.

At first, i thought it was just a knock that would have eased off, but i noticed that all through the summer, its not been right and its been even worse now the new season has started again.

One of the main problems i had at first was when i kicked with my left foot, it caused a sharp pain in my right hip flexor. The same thing would happen when i changed pace and found it very hard to sprint. Then, maybe a few hours after my football, i would start feeling a deep pain coming from my right lower back and upper glute.

It seemed to be fine when i wasnt playing, but each time i played again, the same thing would happen.

I had a completely unrelated operation at the end of July and didnt train at all for 2 weeks. I felt great after this period, but again when i played again, i had a recurrence of the problem with my hip/hip flexor.

Now 3 months on, i'm seein a physio, but i'm worried i've done lasting damage by leaving it so long. The new season has started and now the pain has radiated to my groin area and now physically find it hard to even run, never mind play football.

Any words of reassurance would be very welcome or any advice.

Thanks, Stu

[Heidi]

Hi
I think it is probably connected to the fall. Hopefully it is just a case of some muscle imbalances around the hip - maybe one muscle isn't functioning properly, meaning another has to work hard etc. My guess (depending on where you fell) could be that the glut med has tightened up which would explain the problems when kicking. When standing on one leg the glute med is required to work really hard to stabilise the pelvis.
My advice would be to thoroughly stretch the glute muscles, hip flexors and groin muscles.
Get glut med working properly again by doing side lying clam exercises:
http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/strengthening/body_weight/hip_abduction.php
Sports massage should also help. Good luck!