Kristian Thorborg's Phd Thesis

INTRODUCTION
Hip and groin pain is a common problem in the general population,[10-12] and is often
related to physical function and sporting activity.[10,12,13] Pain in the hip and groin region in
physically active patients is usually characterised by longstanding symptoms that can be
difficult to fully recover from.[12,14]
Different treatment strategies are used concerning physically active patients with hip and
groin pain, including different medical, exercise and operative interventions.[3,15-19] Novel
treatment methods such as hip arthroscopy, incipient groin hernia repair, ultrasound-guided
corticosteroid injections and specific exercise regimens, are advancing rapidly in the
management of young to middle-aged physically active patients with hip and groin
pain.[3,15-22] However, for the evaluation of treatment outcome in physically active patients
with hip and groin disability, reliable, valid and responsive measurement tools are lacking.
This means that novel treatment regimes are currently being developed without
measurement instruments capable of evaluating their effectiveness.
Prevalence of hip and/or groin pain
The prevalence of hip pain in the general population (defined as hip pain during the last 12
months) is approximately 10%, and increases with age.[23]
Pain in the hip and groin region in physically active patients
is usually characterised by longstanding symptoms that in
many cases do not resolve within 6-12 months.[12,14]
Groin pain has especially been reported in sports such as
football (soccer) (Figure 1) and ice-hockey,[24] and
approximately 10-20% of all injuries in football and ice-
hockey are hip and/or groin injuries.[10,25,26]
8
Figure 1. Football (Soccer)
Football is one of the most popular sports in the world, and it is estimated that more than
500 million people play football world wide.[27] In Denmark, it is estimated that 500.000 are