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Chronic groin pain — often rooted in adductor tendinopathy, adductor muscle strain, sports hernia, or other soft-tissue dysfunctions — is a frequent problem for athletes and active individuals.
The complexity of the groin region, involving muscles, tendons, fascia, and joints, means that simple rest or passive treatments alone often fail to resolve long-standing pain.
At Mr Salus Sporting Lab in London, we use a multidisciplinary, physiotherapy-led approach that combines High-Power Laser Therapy, hands-on treatment, movement analysis, and tailored rehabilitation to reduce pain, accelerate healing, and address underlying biomechanical contributors.
High-Power Laser Therapy (HPLT) — a powerful form of clinical photobiomodulation — uses targeted light energy which has many physiological effects, such as:
Unlike lower-power laser devices, high-power lasers (often classified as Class IV) can deliver deeper, more potent therapeutic doses into soft tissues, including painful tendons and muscle entheses.
You can read more about the capabilities and indications of this treatment on our dedicated High Power Laser Physiotherapy page.
Laser therapy has a documented analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect in musculoskeletal conditions.
Although much of the existing evidence is drawn from general musculoskeletal research rather than groin pain specifically, studies consistently show that high-intensity laser therapy helps reduce pain and improve function when used alongside conventional therapy.
A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials found that HILT (high-intensity laser therapy) effectively reduces pain and improves function across a range of musculoskeletal disorders when compared to standard care or placebo treatment.
These effects are attributed to photobiomodulation at the cellular level, increasing local ATP production and reducing pro-inflammatory mediators.
Laser therapy stimulates mitochondrial activity, enhancing fibroblast proliferation and collagen synthesis — essential components of healing chronically injured tendons and muscle insertions.
Although the literature on groin-specific conditions is currently limited, research in adjacent areas, such as proximal hamstring tendinopathy, shows significant decreases in pain with high-power laser therapy compared to standard physiotherapy. ( PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35647184/?utm_source=chatgpt.com )
At Mr Salus Sporting Lab, we never use laser therapy in isolation. Rather, Laser Therapy is integrated into a holistic care path that includes:
Hands-on techniques, such as sports massage and adductor massages (which you can read about in our article on how adductor massage benefits muscle function)
Strength and motor control rehabilitation.
This layered treatment model mirrors current evidence supporting combined interventions — physical therapies offer the foundation, while laser supports recovery and enhances tissue responsiveness.
Laser therapy has been studied across many chronic musculoskeletal conditions, offering insights relevant to groin pain management:
A high-intensity laser systematic review demonstrated significant improvements in pain and function compared to conventional therapy across multiple conditions.
Systematic evidence for photobiomodulation (broadly including both low- and high-power lasers) supports pain reduction and improved function in chronic tendinopathies when used alongside active rehabilitation. ( https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40437920/?utm_source=chatgpt.com )
Research in adjacent tendon and muscle injuries, such as proximal hamstring tendinopathy, shows notable reductions in pain when high-power laser therapy is added to standard physical therapy programs. ( https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35647184/?utm_source=chatgpt.com )
Although direct randomized controlled trials on laser for groin pain remain sparse, this broader evidence — combined with strong clinical logic and mechanistic rationale — supports its use as part of a comprehensive treatment.
Comprehensive Assessment
A detailed clinical evaluation, including functional tests, postural mechanics, and movement analysis, to identify contributing factors.
High-Power Laser Therapy
Targeted laser applications are directly to affected tendons, muscle insertions, and myofascial tissues to reduce inflammation and modulate pain.
Hands-On Manual Therapy
Includes sports massage and targeted adductor massage, such as IASTM Treatment, for soft tissue release and enhanced tissue mobility.
Rehabilitation & Movement Retraining
Functional strengthening, movement pattern correction, and hip control exercises.
Ongoing Monitoring and Progression
Adjusting laser dose, exercise load, and manual treatments in response to improvement.
This multimodal pathway is crucial; while laser offers measurable physiological benefits, active neuromuscular controland hands-on care drive long-term functional recovery.
This therapy approach may be most suitable for individuals with:
Laser therapy — especially when paired with active rehabilitation — offers a non-invasive, drug-free option to complement established physiotherapy strategies.
Chronic groin pain can be stubborn because it often involves multiple interacting tissues and movement patterns.
High-Power Laser Therapy offers a promising way to enhance cellular healing, reduce inflammation, and modulate pain — but its greatest value emerges when integrated into a holistic treatment plan of manual therapy, movement retraining, and strength rehabilitation.
At Mr Salus Sporting Lab, we bring together advanced technology and expert clinical care to help you to get the best rehabilitation outcomes, such as:
Whether you’re an elite athlete or an active individual, contact our Sports injury clinic in London to fix your chronic hip and groin injury.