Midseason Screening for Groin Pain, Severity, and Disability in 101 Elite American Youth Soccer Players: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objective: To (1) systematically screen for groin pain and type in young elite soccer players and (2) assess whether hip and groin-related severity and disability differed between players with different levels of groin pain and tenderness. Design: Cross-sectional observational. Setting: Elite American soccer academy at midseason. Participants: One hundred one academy soccer players (mean age 14.3 +/- 1.8 years). Intervention: All players underwent clinical examinations to classify groin pain by the Doha agreement taxonomy. Main Outcome Measures: Tests for groin-related severity and disability included the Copenhagen 5-second squeeze test, Copenhagen Hip and Groin Outcome Score (HAGOS), and Hip Outcome Score (HOS). Players were stratified into 3 groups: those with groin pain, those with tenderness, and those with no groin pain or tenderness. Results: Twenty-two players (22%) reported groin pain. Adductor-related groin pain was the most common (n = 14), followed by iliopsoas-related (n = 3), and pubic-related (n = 2). Multiple locations were present in 3 players. Thirty-nine players (39%) did not have groin pain but were tender to palpation in 1 or more structures related to the Doha agreement taxonomy. Copenhagen 5-second squeeze test differentiated between players with and without groin pain (groin pain vs tenderness group: P = 0.011; groin pain vs no groin pain group P < 0.001). Four HAGOS subscales (pain, symptoms, sport/recreation, and quality of life) differentiated between players with and without groin pain (P < 0.05). Conclusions: One in five academy soccer players experiences groin pain with adductor-related most common during a midseason screening. Both Copenhagen 5-second squeeze test and HAGOS subscales can differentiate between players with and without groin pain.