Groin pain Men, if your groin tightens or burns every time you push off the ice, you’re not just sore, you could be dealing with a real injury. Hockey demands quick cuts, full-speed stops, and body contact that stress your core and inner thigh muscles.
You don’t have to push through it or hope it fades. Many players make a full recovery when they get the right kind of help early.
Physical therapy gives you answers and a path forward. It helps you understand what’s causing the pain and builds you back up without losing your edge.
You’ll find that targeted rehab does more than heal. It strengthens weak links, restores movement, and gets you game-ready again.
Causes of Groin Pain for Hockey Players
Groin pain doesn’t always hit with a single sharp moment on the ice. If you’re skating in local leagues around Scripps Ranch or hitting early morning stick time at San Diego Ice Arena, repeated motion and high intensity can wear down the muscles and joints in your groin area.
It’s easy to push through discomfort when the competitive drive kicks in, but the longer groin pain is ignored, the harder it is to recover fully.
Muscle Strain From Explosive Movement
The most common cause of groin pain in hockey players is a muscle strain. This happens when the groin muscles—especially the adductors—stretch or tear under high demand.
You might notice:
• Immediate pain after a sprint or sudden stop
• A dull ache in the inner thigh hours after skating
• Weakness or tightness when pushing off laterally
Sports physical therapy offers solutions that target the exact movement patterns of hockey. By retraining the groin and hip through controlled strength progressions, players return to full performance with more power and better protection against reinjury.
Sports Hernia and Abdominal Wall Breakdown
Groin pain that lingers without bruising or swelling might stem from a sports hernia. Unlike a traditional hernia, this one involves soft tissue strain or tearing near the lower abdominal wall, close to where the legs begin.
Symptoms often include:
• Burning pain with twists, shots, or core work
• Lower abdominal pain after practices
• Pain that improves with rest but returns quickly
Early diagnosis from a physical therapist helps athletes avoid unnecessary surgical treatments. With guided rehab, it’s possible to restore strength in the abdominal muscles and relieve pressure on the affected tissue.
If groin pain is limiting your game or you’ve had an injury that keeps coming back, don’t wait. We’re ready to help you move better, feel stronger, and perform at your peak again.
Call us today at 858-324-5537 to schedule your appointment. Or Schedule a Discovery Visit to learn more. Let’s get you back to doing what you love.
Hip Joint Dysfunction and Compensation
The hip joint is critical for balance, rotation, and drive. When mobility in the hip is restricted, or when surrounding muscles are weak, the groin takes on the extra stress.
Signs of hip-driven groin pain include:
• Discomfort deep in the groin with crossover skating
• Limited rotation or tightness in the hip joint
• A dull ache that shows up after longer shifts
Physical therapy works to restore proper mechanics in the hips and pelvis. Joint mobilization, stability drills, and targeted strength work can take strain off the groin so you stay mobile and quick on the ice.
Hernias and Medical Conditions to Rule Out
Groin pain isn’t always musculoskeletal. Inguinal hernias, kidney stones, or urinary tract infections can cause severe groin pain that mimics a pulled muscle.
Other conditions like testicular torsion can cut off your blood supply. And testicular cancer needs immediate medical attention.
If you experience any of the following, seek immediate medical care:
• Sudden swelling or pain that doesn’t ease with rest
• A burning sensation or discomfort while urinating
• Pain that radiates into the testicle or lower abdomen
• Fever or other signs of infection
A physical therapist works in coordination with healthcare providers to ensure every groin pain diagnosis is accurate before beginning movement-based treatment.
Chronic Pain and Underlying Movement Faults
When groin pain symptoms last longer than a few days or reappear season after season, the cause is often more complex.
Weak spots in the core, old groin injuries, or mobility issues can all cause groin pain and contribute to chronic dysfunction.
Physical therapy focuses on:
• Identifying mechanical faults during skating, drills, and off-ice workouts
• Activating core, glute, and hip strength to support the groin area
• Using functional exercises that mirror how hockey is played
Instead of masking pain with rest or short-term fixes like ice packs and pain relievers, PT builds long-term durability with custom strength and movement plans.
For players grinding through practices in Scripps Ranch or chasing wins at local tournaments in Poway and the greater San Diego area, groin pain doesn’t have to become the norm.
Accurate diagnosis and a focused recovery plan make all the difference. Physical therapy gives you a way to heal and play stronger.
Auto-Ness PT in Scripps Ranch Helps You Get Back on the Ice
We Focus on the Root Cause of Your Groin Pain
At Auto-Ness PT, we don’t just treat the symptoms of a hockey groin injury. We take time to understand what’s really causing the pain so we can build a plan that fits how you skate, train, and move.
Whether your pain comes from a pulled muscle, hip imbalance, or weakness in your core, we use detailed assessments and hands-on techniques to find the real problem.
You’ll leave with more than a diagnosis—you’ll leave with a plan to get stronger.
We Work With Hockey Athletes Like You Every Day
We’re proud to serve as the official PT team for the San Diego Sabers Jr. Hockey Team. We know the pace, the injuries, and the demands of hockey because we’re in it with you.
When you come in with a groin strain or other injury, we bring years of experience treating hockey player injuries at all levels. We’ll help you improve your stride, control your core, and build power without sacrificing flexibility.
We Customize Your Recovery Around Performance
Your plan won’t be built from a generic checklist. It’ll be shaped by how you move, your goals, and the exact needs of your position and playing style.
You can expect:
• Hockey-specific strength and mobility drills
• Soft tissue work and manual therapy as needed
• Progress tracking through each phase of your recovery
• Real-time adjustments based on how you respond
We treat every injury as an opportunity to help you come back better than before.
Get Back on the Ice, Stronger Than Ever
If groin pain is limiting your game or you’ve had an injury that keeps coming back, don’t wait. We’re ready to help you move better, feel stronger, and perform at your peak again.
Call us today at 858-324-5537 to schedule your appointment. Or Schedule a Discovery Visit to learn more. Let’s get you back to doing what you love.
