Introduction The primary aim of this study was to describe the clinical entities and imaging characteristics of groin injuries in women’s football.

Materials and Methods During the 2020 and 2021 seasons, players in the Norwegian women’s premier football league reported groin injuries weekly, using the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center Questionnaire on Health Problems. The team physical therapist (PT) classified the athlete-reported injuries using a standardized examination form. Injuries with more than 3 days’ time-loss or reported in 2 consecutive weeks were eligible for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), applied to describe the injury characteristics.

Results The PTs examined 66 of 126 athlete-reported groin injuries (52%). Thirty-nine (59%) of the PT-examined injuries were classified as adductor-related, 10 (15%) iliopsoas-related, 6 (9%) in rectus femoris, 4 (6%) pubic-related, 4 (6%) hip-related, 2 (3%) inguinal-related, and one (2%) other. Rectus femoris injuries caused the greatest time-loss (median: 15 days, IQR: 6–26), followed by pubic-related injuries (median: 14 days, IQR: 1–91). Of the 55 injuries meeting MRI criteria, 42 (76%) were investigated with MRI. Of the injuries examined by MRI we found no findings in 8 cases (19%), acute injury findings in 6 cases (14%) and chronic findings in 29 cases (69%). The most common acute and chronic findings were in the proximal rectus femoris (n=4) and symphyseal joint surface irregularities or subchondral cysts (n=7), respectively.

Conclusion Adductor-related groin injuries were the most common, and injuries to the rectus femoris caused the greatest time-loss. The majority of MRI examinations demonstrated chronic findings.