If your groin hurts when walking or putting on socks, what should you check?

If the inner groin hurts when walking, putting on socks or getting out of a car, restricted movement of the hip joint itself or problems in nearby tissues may be considered. Conversely, pain that begins in the lower back and radiates to the buttocks and groin also occurs; therefore, it is necessary to identify together where the pain first originated.

Whether pain is reproduced when the hip is bent inward and rotated is an important clue.

• Groin pain when putting on socks or shoes
• Pain in the groin or buttocks when walking or climbing stairs
• Discomfort when getting on and off the car
• Stiffness that begins when getting up after sitting for a long time
• Instability when standing on one leg
• Groin pain occurring along with lower back pain

Depending on whether the pain is in the front of the groin or the outside/back of the buttock, the involved structures may differ.

If groin pain started after a fall, a fracture around the hip joint should be checked even if you can still walk. In people with osteoporosis in particular, even a minor fall can make it hard to put weight on the leg or make the foot look turned outward. If the groin becomes swollen with a fever without any injury, or if even slight leg movement hurts so much that you cannot walk, same-day medical care is needed.

If one leg suddenly swells and hurts while you become short of breath or have chest pain, call 119 (Korea's emergency number) or go to an emergency room immediately. If you notice a bulging lump in the groin, abdominal pain or changes in urination, or severe pelvic pain during pregnancy, causes other than the hip joint also need to be checked.

We check which area hurts first—the lower back or the groin—and how symptoms differ when walking, sitting, or lying down. We examine hip flexion and rotation, single-leg stance, and gait.

If there is leg pain or numbness, we also check lumbar nerve function and assess whether movement of the knee and ankle affects gait.

If there are no warning signs and management of connected movement and muscle function in the lumbar, pelvic, and hip regions is needed, Chuna manual therapy may be considered. We do not explain it as a method that aligns the pelvis in one session.

After treatment, we check not only the pain score but also whether walking, climbing stairs, and putting on socks actually become easier. If pain recurs, adjust sitting time and weight-bearing habits as well.