Diagnosing exercise related pubic pain: Findings from exploratory focus groups involving clinical experts

Abstract

Introduction: The diagnosis of pain originating from the hip and groin, especially from the pubic bone and its soft tissue attachments continues to be a challenge in sports medicine. Despite the publication of previous clinical models, calls for the development of standardised diagnostic criteria continue. A clinical model, based around a synthesis of previous literature has been proposed to assist in the diagnosis of exercise related pubic pain (ERPP). The eight sub-groups in this proposed clinical model are abdominal enthesopathy, abdominal tendinopathy, adductor enthesopathy, adductor tendinopathy, pre-pubic complex tears, pubic bone marrow oedema, pubic symphysis irritation and pubic instability, however validation of the clinical model is required.