Inclusion and exclusion criteria for participation in the study
| Cohort 86 participants | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Symptomatic soccer players | Asymptomatic soccer players | Asymptomatic non-soccer players | |
| Inclusion criteria | ▸ Male soccer players ▸ Age above 18 years ▸ 2–4 weekly soccer training sessions at subelite level ▸ Groin pain when running and playing soccer ▸ Symptoms >4 weeks | ▸ Male soccer players ▸ Age above 18 years ▸ Two to four weekly soccer training sessions at subelite level ▸ No symptoms of hip and/or groin pain within the previous year | ▸ Healthy males ▸ Age above 18 years ▸ Two to four weekly sports training sessions ▸ No symptoms of hip and/or groin pain within the previous year |
| Exclusion criteria | ▸ Symptoms of groin pain within one year from the date of examination | ▸ Regular soccer practice within the previous 10 years ▸ Practice of sports known to be associated with groin pain (handball, rugby, ice hockey) ▸ Presence of hip and/or groin pain on clinical examination | |
| AND ▸ Age under 18 years ▸ Systemic disorders, obesity, depression, alcohol or drug abuse ▸ Conditions that may cause symptoms of referred groin pain (chronic urinary tract infection, lower back pain, inguinal hernia) ▸ Inability to undergo MRI (claustrophobia, magnetic metal implants) | |||