Why Does My Groin Hurt When Walking or Turning?

Short answer: Groin pain when walking or turning may come from the hip joint, hip osteoarthritis, femoroacetabular impingement or labral irritation, adductor or hip-flexor muscles and tendons, a bone stress injury, a hernia, or pain referred from the lower back and nerves. Turning or pivoting places rotational load through the hip, while walking repeatedly loads the joint, bone and surrounding tissues. The pain location, onset, clicking or catching, relation to coughing or lifting, and ability to bear weight help determine what should be assessed.

Patients often assume groin pain must be a pulled muscle. That is one possibility, particularly after sport or a sudden movement, but the groin is also a common location for pain arising inside the hip joint. Abdominal, urinary, reproductive and hernia-related conditions can produce symptoms in the same region. An online article cannot safely distinguish these causes for an individual.

When groin pain needs urgent medical assessment

Seek urgent assessment if:

• you cannot stand or bear weight after a fall, collision or sudden injury;
• the leg appears shortened, rotated or visibly deformed;
• pain is severe, rapidly worsening or accompanied by fever or serious illness;
• a groin lump becomes very painful, firm or cannot be pushed back, particularly with vomiting, abdominal swelling or inability to pass stool or gas;
• there is sudden severe testicular or scrotal pain or swelling;
• there is severe pelvic or lower-abdominal pain during pregnancy or with fainting or substantial bleeding;
• the leg becomes cold, pale or blue, or develops substantial one-sided swelling;
• there is new major leg weakness, loss of bladder or bowel control, or numbness around the groin or saddle area;
• pain occurs with chest pain, breathlessness, collapse or coughing blood; or
• there is progressive rest or night pain, unexplained weight loss, an enlarging mass or a history of cancer.

Older adults and people with osteoporosis may sustain a hip fracture after a relatively minor fall. Taking a few steps does not completely exclude a fracture. For a life-threatening emergency in Singapore, call SCDF 995.^[1] The Pain Relief Clinic is not an emergency service.

Where exactly is the groin pain?

Use one finger to identify the centre of the pain, then note whether it spreads:

• Deep in the front crease of the hip: may suggest a hip-joint or hip-flexor question.
• Along the inner thigh: may involve the adductor muscles or tendons.
• Near the pubic bone: may relate to adductors, abdominal attachments, the pubic joint or pelvic structures.
• With a visible or palpable lump: raises a hernia or other soft-tissue question.
• Extending into the thigh or knee: can occur with hip-joint pain.
• Burning, electric pain or numbness: raises a nerve or referred-pain question.

Location narrows the differential diagnosis but does not confirm the source. Several conditions may coexist.

Why does turning provoke groin pain?

Turning changes direction while the body’s weight passes through the hip. The femoral head rotates within the socket, muscles control the pelvis, and the foot and trunk influence how much rotation reaches the joint.

Pain may be triggered when:

• an arthritic or irritated joint is loaded and rotated;
• particular hip shapes create impingement during flexion and rotation;
• a symptomatic labrum is stressed during pivoting;
• an adductor or hip-flexor muscle contracts suddenly;
• a bone stress injury is repeatedly loaded;
• the person turns on a planted foot instead of taking several smaller steps; or
• the lower back or a nerve responds to combined trunk and hip movement.

1. Hip osteoarthritis

Hip osteoarthritis commonly causes pain in the groin, front of the thigh, buttock or knee. Stiffness, reduced movement, difficulty putting on shoes, pain rising from a chair and discomfort when turning may accompany walking pain.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons describes groin or thigh pain and stiffness that may make walking and bending difficult.^[2] NICE advises that osteoarthritis can often be diagnosed clinically in people aged 45 or older who have activity-related joint pain and either no morning stiffness or stiffness lasting no longer than 30 minutes, unless atypical features suggest another diagnosis.^[3]

X-ray findings and symptoms do not always correspond closely. The treatment decision should respond to function, previous care and the patient’s priorities rather than an imaging grade alone.

2. Femoroacetabular impingement

Femoroacetabular impingement, or FAI, describes particular shapes of the femoral head, neck or hip socket that can create contact during movement. Many people have these shapes without pain.

When symptomatic, FAI may produce deep groin pain, stiffness or a sharper sensation with turning, twisting, squatting, low sitting or getting into a car. AAOS notes that pain may occur in the groin and be aggravated by turning, twisting and squatting.^[4]

Because hip shape alone does not prove the pain source, the diagnosis combines symptoms, movement findings and appropriate imaging. Treatment may begin with activity modification and rehabilitation. Surgical opinion is considered for selected patients with persistent symptoms and a matching structural pattern.

3. Labral irritation or tear

The labrum is a ring of fibrocartilage around the hip socket. A symptomatic labral problem may cause deep groin pain, clicking, catching, a sense of instability or pain with rotation.

These features overlap with impingement, arthritis, tendon pain and snapping hip. Labral abnormalities can also be seen in people without symptoms. A scan should therefore answer a defined clinical question rather than be treated as a diagnosis by itself.

4. Adductor strain or tendinopathy

The adductor muscles run along the inner thigh and help control the leg during walking, turning and changes of direction. A sudden strain may follow sprinting, kicking, slipping or rapid direction change. Tendon-related pain may develop more gradually with repeated sport or loading.

Pain may be reproduced by squeezing the legs together, stretching the inner thigh or pushing off during walking. AAOS notes that hip strains can occur after overuse, overstretching or direct injury to muscles and tendons around the hip.^[5]

Marked bruising, a palpable gap or substantial weakness needs assessment. Persistent adductor pain should not automatically be treated with repeated stretching, because joint, pubic, abdominal and hernia-related conditions may overlap.

5. Hip-flexor or iliopsoas-related pain

The hip flexors help advance the leg during walking and control the transition between hip extension and flexion. Pain at the front of the hip may be aggravated by long strides, uphill walking, lifting the knee, rising from a low chair or repeated kicking.

Some patients experience a snapping sensation at the front of the hip. Snapping can be painless, while painful snapping requires comparison with joint and labral symptoms. Tenderness and resisted movement can support a tendon or muscle pattern but are not interpreted alone.

6. Bone stress injury or occult fracture

Bone stress injury develops when repeated loading exceeds the bone’s recovery capacity. It can occur after a rapid increase in running, walking or military training and may be influenced by reduced bone density, low energy availability, menstrual disturbance, previous stress injury and certain medicines.

Deep groin pain may initially occur only during activity, then begin earlier, persist after exercise or appear at rest. Early stress fractures may not be visible on initial X-rays, while MRI can show bone-marrow changes.^[6]

A femoral-neck stress injury can be clinically important. Progressive focal weight-bearing pain should not be repeatedly provoked or managed only as muscle tightness.

7. Inguinal or femoral hernia

A hernia occurs when tissue protrudes through a weak area in the abdominal wall. Groin discomfort or a lump may become more noticeable with standing, coughing, lifting or straining. A hip examination alone does not assess every hernia-related problem.

A painful firm lump that cannot be reduced, particularly with vomiting, abdominal swelling or bowel symptoms, needs urgent medical or surgical assessment because trapped tissue may lose its blood supply.

8. Pain referred from the lower back or nerves

The lumbar spine can refer pain into the groin, buttock or thigh. Nerve involvement may produce burning, electric pain, tingling, numbness or weakness. A normal hip scan does not exclude a spinal or neurological contributor.

Examination may need to compare hip and spinal movement and include strength, sensation and reflexes. The aim is to determine whether the hip, spine, nerve or more than one structure best explains the pattern.

9. Other abdominal, urinary, reproductive or inflammatory causes

Groin pain is not always musculoskeletal. Urinary stones, infection, reproductive-organ conditions, pelvic problems, inflammatory arthritis and other medical causes may produce pain in or near the groin. Associated urinary symptoms, abdominal pain, fever, bleeding, a lump, testicular symptoms or pregnancy change the assessment pathway.

A licensed medical doctor may need to examine beyond the hip or arrange appropriate referral and testing. Physiotherapy should not delay investigation of a suspected non-musculoskeletal cause.

Questions that help organise the diagnosis

• Did the pain begin suddenly during sport, a fall or a turn?
• Is it deep in the hip crease, along the inner thigh or associated with a lump?
• Does it hurt when the foot is planted and the body turns?
• Is there clicking, catching, locking or a sense of instability?
• Does coughing, sneezing, lifting or straining affect it?
• Does pain ease after the first few steps or worsen with distance?
• Is the hip stiff when putting on socks, crossing the legs or getting into a car?
• Are there back pain, numbness, weakness or pain below the knee?
• Are there fever, urinary, abdominal, bowel or reproductive symptoms?
• How does it affect work, walking, stairs, sleep, caregiving or sport?

How groin pain is assessed

Assessment may include walking, turning, sit-to-stand, active and passive hip movement, strength, adductor and hip-flexor loading, local tenderness and selected hip-joint provocation tests. Tests such as flexion-adduction-internal rotation or FABER may reproduce symptoms but do not prove one diagnosis on their own.

The lower back, nerves, abdomen or groin region may also need assessment depending on the symptoms. Examination of a possible hernia or reproductive or urinary problem should be conducted appropriately by a qualified clinician with consent and suitable chaperone arrangements where relevant.

When may imaging or other tests help?

X-ray

X-rays may be appropriate when osteoarthritis, fracture, hip shape, alignment or another bone-related cause is suspected. The American College of Radiology rates pelvis and hip radiography as usually appropriate initial imaging for chronic hip pain.^[7]

MRI

MRI can assess bone marrow, cartilage, labrum, tendons, muscles and other soft tissues. It may be considered for persistent unexplained symptoms, suspected stress injury or occult fracture, osteonecrosis, or a management-changing labral or tendon question.

MRI does not use ionising radiation, but it is not required for every patient with groin pain. The need for a standard MRI, contrast or arthrographic contrast depends on the clinical question and individual suitability.

Ultrasound

Ultrasound may assess superficial tendons, fluid, selected dynamic snapping and possible hernias. It can guide certain procedures. It does not provide the same overview of bone marrow, cartilage and the deep joint as MRI.

Blood, urine or other tests

Blood tests may be considered when infection, inflammatory disease or another systemic condition is suspected. Urine testing or abdominal, pelvic, urological or reproductive investigations may be more appropriate when the symptoms do not fit a musculoskeletal pattern.

What can you do for mild symptoms without warning features?

• Temporarily reduce sharp pivoting, deep squatting, long strides or the activity that clearly provokes pain.
• Turn using several smaller steps rather than twisting on a planted foot.
• Break a long walk into shorter bouts if this keeps symptoms manageable.
• Maintain comfortable movement instead of complete bed rest.
• Track pain location, clicking, distance tolerance and the response over the following 24 hours.
• Arrange assessment if pain persists, progresses, causes a limp or limits ordinary walking.

Medication should be considered only after reviewing allergies, pregnancy, other medicines and stomach, kidney, heart or bleeding risks. An online guide cannot select a safe drug or dose for an individual.

Treatment depends on the cause and the person

For many non-urgent musculoskeletal causes, treatment may combine education, activity modification and progressive rehabilitation. The programme should rebuild the movements that matter to the patient, including walking, turning, stairs, sit-to-stand, work tasks and sport.

A hip-osteoarthritis plan differs from one for an adductor strain, gluteal tendon pain, impingement or referred spinal pain. For osteoarthritis, NICE recommends tailored therapeutic exercise and weight management where appropriate as core care.^[3]

Medication, hands-on care, selected physical modalities, a walking aid or a targeted injection may support symptom control for some patients. Each should have a defined clinical purpose, risks and review point. Passive treatment does not automatically restore turning tolerance or resolve a hernia, fracture or non-musculoskeletal condition.

Surgical assessment may be appropriate for fracture, a complicated hernia, selected impingement or labral conditions, advanced osteoarthritis with substantial disability, or another defined structural problem that has not responded to reasonable non-surgical care. Referral for an opinion does not commit the patient to surgery.

Patient-specific scenarios

If you are older and the hip is stiff

Hip osteoarthritis becomes more relevant, particularly with reduced rotation, difficulty with shoes and pain rising from a chair. Examination and an X-ray where clinically appropriate may clarify whether joint changes match the symptoms.

If pain began during sport or a sudden change of direction

An adductor, hip-flexor, labral or other injury may be considered. Immediate inability to bear weight, marked bruising or deep progressive pain lowers the threshold for imaging and medical review.

If the groin clicks or catches when turning

An impingement or labral question may be relevant, but clicking alone does not prove damage. Imaging is most useful when the history and examination indicate that the result is likely to change treatment.

If there is a lump or pain with coughing

A hernia should be considered. Physiotherapy exercises for the hip should not replace medical assessment of a new groin lump. Severe pain, vomiting or an irreducible lump requires urgent care.

If you have already tried physiotherapy

Review whether the programme targeted the likely diagnosis, used an appropriate dose and progressed towards walking and turning goals. Persistent deep groin pain, progressive night symptoms, a lump, marked weakness or failure after a well-delivered programme may justify medical reassessment and selective tests rather than repeating the same exercises.

If you dislike exercise or prefer passive treatment

Discuss whether pain, time, fatigue, fear or a previous bad experience is the main barrier. Symptom-relief options may help selected patients, but their limitations should be clear. A small active component can begin with essential daily walking or controlled turning rather than a conventional gym programme.

If you need to return to work quickly

Clarify walking distance, direction changes, lifting, stairs and commuting. A short-term plan may use task modification and symptom control while the diagnosis is clarified. No treatment can guarantee recovery within a fixed number of days, and suspected fracture, hernia or another urgent cause should not be missed.

Integrated doctor and physiotherapy management

The Pain Relief Clinic has in-house physiotherapists for integrated management with the licensed medical doctor. Where physiotherapy is clinically appropriate, this can align the working diagnosis, hip and gait assessment, progressive strengthening, walking and turning retraining, symptom management, imaging decisions and referral planning.

Integrated care may be useful when previous physiotherapy has not helped, symptoms may arise from the lower back, or a scan needs to be interpreted alongside movement and function. Physiotherapists practising in Singapore are regulated by the Allied Health Professions Council, which maintains a public register.^[8]

Insurance referrals and supporting paperwork

The clinic can assist with clinically appropriate referrals and supporting paperwork for insurance claims. Coverage, required documents, pre-authorisation and reimbursement depend on the patient’s policy and insurer. A referral, form or medical report does not guarantee approval or payment.

Before imaging, physiotherapy, an injection or specialist consultation, patients may wish to ask whether their insurer requires a doctor’s referral, panel provider, pre-authorisation, itemised invoice, procedure code, imaging report or medical report.

Frequently asked questions

Does groin pain usually come from the hip joint?

The hip joint is an important possibility, particularly with stiffness and pain during rotation, but muscles, tendons, hernias, nerves and abdominal, urinary or reproductive conditions can also cause groin pain.

Why does it hurt when I pivot on one leg?

Pivoting adds rotation while the hip bears weight. Joint irritation, impingement, a labral problem, muscle or tendon injury and bone stress can all become symptomatic during this movement.

Does clicking mean I have a labral tear?

No. Clicking may occur for several reasons and can be painless. A labral problem becomes more relevant when deep groin pain, catching and a matching examination pattern are present.

Do I need an MRI?

Not necessarily. X-ray may be the appropriate first investigation for chronic hip pain or suspected arthritis and bone changes. MRI is useful for selected bone-marrow, labral, tendon and soft-tissue questions when the result may change management.

What if the groin pain also occurs when walking?

The painful phase, distance and associated limp may provide useful clues. Read Why Does My Hip Hurt When Walking? and arrange assessment if symptoms persist or limit ordinary activity.

Key points

• Groin pain during walking or turning may arise from the hip joint, muscles, tendons, bone, a hernia, the spine or another medical condition.
• Deep hip-crease pain, inner-thigh pain and pain associated with a lump require different assessment questions.
• Turning adds rotational load and can provoke arthritis, impingement, labral, muscle and bone-related symptoms.
• X-ray, ultrasound, MRI and non-musculoskeletal tests answer different questions.
• Treatment should match the suspected cause, previous care and the patient’s walking, work and sporting goals.
• Inability to bear weight, fever, deformity, an irreducible painful lump or major neurological symptoms require urgent assessment.

Arrange a hip and groin-pain assessment in Singapore

If groin pain persists, repeatedly occurs while walking or turning, causes a limp or limits work and daily activity, a structured assessment can help determine whether rehabilitation, imaging, medical investigation, symptom-relief treatment or referral may be appropriate.

The Pain Relief Clinic
350 Orchard Road, #10-00 Shaw House
Singapore 238868
Call or WhatsApp: +65 9068 9605

Not every investigation or treatment discussed on this page is required, offered or recommended by the clinic. Availability and permissible use of tests, medicines, devices, injections, procedures and emerging treatments in Singapore may change with evolving Ministry of Health, Health Sciences Authority and Singapore Medical Council requirements. Individual decisions require clinical assessment and should follow current Singapore regulations and professional guidance.

References

1. Singapore Civil Defence Force. Emergency Medical Services.
2. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Osteoarthritis of the Hip.
3. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Osteoarthritis in Over 16s: Diagnosis and Management.
4. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Femoroacetabular Impingement.
5. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Hip Strains.
6. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Stress Fractures.
7. American College of Radiology. ACR Appropriateness Criteria: Chronic Hip Pain.
8. Allied Health Professions Council Singapore. Registers of Allied Health Professionals.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for general reference only and should be used in consultation with your licensed medical doctor. It is not a diagnosis or a substitute for personalised medical advice. Seek urgent care for severe, rapidly worsening or warning-feature symptoms.

Reviewed by Dr Terence Tan — 13 September 2026