Hip and Groin Pain
Finding the the pain in
the sacroiliac and pubic symphysis
Ross Hauser, M.D.

Seldom is the cause of an athlete's hip and/or groin pain just in the hip joint. The sacroiliac and pubic symphysis areas are often overlooked because some doctors do not know the ligament referral patterns from the lower back and pubic symphysis.

Referral pain
What most athletic trainers, orthopedic surgeons, and physical therapists do not know is that ligaments can refer pain to a distant site. The more severe the injury, the more likely a referral pain pattern will exist. Dr. Hackett determined the referral patterns of the ligaments of the lower back, which refer to the legs, after giving 18,000 intraligamentous injections to 1656 patients over a period of 19 years. (Hackett, G. Ligament and Tendon Relaxation Treated by Prolotherapy. Third Edition. Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas, Publisher, 1958.)

He determined that often sacroiliac ligament injury refers pain down the leg into the foot and is the reason for so-called "sciatica." Hip joint ligament injury refers pain down the leg into the big toe. Thus if a person has the respective ligament referral pattern, it helps the determine which ligaments should be examined.

Referral patterns of the ligaments from the lower back and hip are as follows: Lliolumbar refers to the groin and inner thigh. Posterior sacroiliac (upper two-thirds) refers to the buttock, anterior thigh, leg (outer surface); posterior sacroiliac (lower outer fibers) refers to the posterior thigh, and the leg (outer calf), foot (lateral toes), accompanied by sciatica; hip (pelvic attachment) refers to the posteromedial thigh; hip (femoral attachment) refers to the posterior thigh; lateral lower leg refers to the big toe and second toe; and sacrospinus and sacrotuberus refers to the posterior thigh, posterior lower leg, and then to the heel.

Continue 1 2 3