Common Hip Injuries in Adolescent Footballers

Hip and groin pain in teenage footballers is more common than many parents realise, and it's often dismissed as "just part of playing sport." While mild, short-lived discomfort can be normal, persistent pain in adolescents should not be ignored — the growing hip has some unique vulnerabilities that adult players don't have.

Why adolescent hips are different

Until the growth plates fully close (typically in the late teens), the hip contains areas of growing cartilage that are softer and more vulnerable to injury than mature bone. This means young footballers can experience injuries that simply don't occur in adults, alongside the more familiar muscle and tendon problems.

Common causes of hip pain in young footballers

• Groin strains — the adductor muscles (inner thigh) are heavily loaded during kicking, sprinting and changing direction, making them a frequent site of strain in football
• Apophysitis — irritation at a growth plate where a tendon attaches to the pelvis, often from repetitive kicking or sprinting; a common and very treatable cause of hip and groin pain in adolescents
• Hip flexor strain — overuse of the muscles that lift the leg during running and kicking
• Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) — a structural issue where the hip bones don't move smoothly together, which can cause pain with certain movements and is increasingly recognised in young athletes

Warning signs that warrant assessment

Persistent pain lasting more than a few days, pain that affects walking or running, a noticeable limp, reduced range of motion in the hip, or pain that recurs every time your child returns to football are all reasons to book a physiotherapy assessment rather than waiting it out.

How physiotherapy helps

Assessment starts with understanding exactly which structure is involved and why — often a combination of training load, growth spurts and movement patterns specific to your child. From there, treatment typically includes activity modification (not necessarily complete rest), a graded strengthening program targeting the hip and surrounding muscles, addressing any movement or technique factors that may be contributing, and a structured return-to-sport plan so your child comes back stronger rather than re-aggravating the injury.

Supporting long-term hip health

Many hip injuries in young footballers are preventable with the right foundations — a proper warm-up routine, gradual increases in training load rather than sudden spikes, adequate rest between sessions, and early attention to niggles rather than "playing through" them.

If your child is complaining of ongoing hip or groin pain, don't wait for it to resolve on its own. Book a paediatric sports physiotherapy assessment with our team in the Sutherland Shire.