| Injuries to the pelvis and hip constitute a small | | | | changes due to overuse, known as tendinosis. |
| percentage of sporting injuries with groin pain being the | | | | The most common traumatic event usually involves a |
| most common presentation. Muscular and tendinous | | | | contraction of the muscle while it is trying to lengthen |
| problems (especially where the tendon and the muscle | | | | and overuse occurs where hip flexion is repeatedly |
| meet) are the typical areas of complaint. The iliopsoas, | | | | performed such as running, dancing, rowing and many |
| a hip muscle deep in the pelvis, can be irritated by a | | | | sports. The iliopsoas muscle may become tight which |
| traumatic event or by overuse from repeated hip | | | | increases the forces exerted on it and tilts the pelvis |
| flexion (bending). This condition is not well diagnosed | | | | anteriorly, with other negative effects in the leg during |
| and may often be missed, with young persons more | | | | activity. Typical onset is slow and gradual and people |
| likely to present and females somewhat more often. | | | | note that the pain comes on with the problem activity |
| The two muscles, iliacus and psoas, have their origin | | | | and eases off soon as they get warmed up. As it |
| respectively from the pelvis and lumbar spine, coming | | | | gets worse the pain will remain during the active period |
| together to make the combined iliopsoas muscle which | | | | as ease after the activity is stopped, progressing to |
| becomes a tendon and inserts into a small area of | | | | continuous pain if no action is taken. Pain will be in the |
| bone on the inside of the upper thigh, the lesser | | | | groin area but can radiate down the front of the thigh. |
| trochanter. The bursa between the musculo-tendinous | | | | Physiotherapy acute management involves rest, ice |
| junction of the iliopsoas and the nearby pelvic bone is | | | | and gentle movements to allow the pain and |
| the largest in the body and in some cases runs into the | | | | inflammation to settle. Stretching can be gradually |
| hip joint itself. Acute trauma may cause damage to | | | | introduced, starting with very gently techniques and |
| the tendon resulting in inflammation which can then be | | | | steadily progressed to return full range of movement, |
| termed tendinitis and this can be longer term or chronic. | | | | strength and endurance. Gradual return to the low |
| Inflammation may occur around the tendon instead or | | | | intensity sport related hip flexion should allow the |
| the tendon fibres themselves may show degenerative | | | | iliopsoas to tire without overstraining. |