ARTICLE TYPE : RESEARCH ARTICLE
Published on : 24 Oct 2026,
Volume - 2
Journal Title :
WebLog Journal of Physical Medicine
| WebLog J Phys Med
| WJPM
Source URL:
https://weblogoa.com/articles/wjpm.2026.j2405
Permanent Identifier (DOI) :
Prevalence of Athletic Pubalgia Among Recreational College-Going Male Football Players
2MPT in Neurological Sciences, Assistant Professor, Acharya’s NR Institute of Physiotherapy, Acharya Institutes, Soldevanahalli, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Abstract
Background: Athletic pubalgia is a common cause of lower abdominal and groin pain in athletes performing repetitive running, kicking, cutting and rapid changes of direction. Recreational college going players may be at risk because of variable training and conditioning.
Objective: To determine the prevalence of athletic pubalgia among recreational college-going male football players aged 18-24 years and assess hip and groin function among those classified as having it.
Methods: A cross-sectional study of 96 recreational male football players from colleges in North Bengaluru, recruited by purposive sampling. Participants meeting three or more of five clinical criteria were classified as having athletic pubalgia: history of groin or lower abdominal pain, positive adductor squeeze test, pain exacerbated by activity, tenderness over the pubic symphysis or adductor tendon region, and pain during the abdominal curl test. Hip and groin function was assessed using the Copenhagen Hip and Groin Outcome Score (HAGOS).
Results: Athletic pubalgia was observed in 42 of 96 participants (43.8%; 95% CI: 33.6%-54.3%). In an exploratory comparison, participants classified as having athletic pubalgia reported higher weekly playing frequency (median 3.5 vs. 2.0 days/week; p = 0.044). Among these participants, the lowest mean HAGOS domain score was for Pain (40.65 ± 7.12) and the highest for hip and groin related Quality of Life (47.88 ± 10.12).
Conclusion: Athletic pubalgia was observed in 43.8% of recreational college-going male football players in this purposively sampled group. Those classified as having it reported higher weekly playing frequency and hip and groin symptoms, mainly pain.
Keywords: Athletic Pubalgia; Groin Pain; Football; HAGOS; Recreational Athletes
Citation
Arunkumar KV, Chinmayi Rangaraju, Devadhan KD, Malavika TN. Prevalence of Athletic Pubalgia Among Recreational College-Going Male Football Players. WebLog J Phys Med. wjpm.2026.j2405. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23880194