What are the Different Causes of Back and Groin Pain?

Back and groin pain are both common among athletes as well as the general population, and while the initial cause of the pain may differ from person to person, the internal causes can usually be traced to only a few possibilities. Tight muscles are most often the cause, as they can cause pelvic imbalance as well as pinched nerves. Weak muscles may also contribute to back and groin pain, as can joint issues that range from the minor to very serious. Poor posture, overuse of certain muscles, direct trauma, and other injuries are usually responsible for causing back and groin pain.

The muscles that surround the hips and connect the legs to the torso are generally known as the groin region. These muscles stretch into the lower back, and in many cases, pain in one area will lead to pain in another. Groin pain can therefore lead to back pain as muscles tighten or as joints fail to operate properly. Weak groin and back muscles can allow the joints in the hips to dislocate slightly, causing back and groin pain. To avoid such problems, a core workout is recommended. A core workout strengthens the muscles in the stomach, hips, lower back, and legs, as these muscles are responsible for supporting the spine.

An injury to a muscle in the groin can lead to an ache in the back, and vice versa. When a muscle gets injured, other muscles in the body tend to compensate for it, picking up the work that the injured muscle cannot perform. If a groin muscle is injured, for example, muscles in the lower back might work harder to keep the body in an upright posture. This compensation can lead to both back and groin pain: back pain because of the overcompensation, and groin pain because of the initial injury.

Direct trauma to any number of muscles or bones can lead to back and groin pain. Testicular trauma in particular can cause pain in the groin area, and that pain can radiate into the lower back. This is known as referred pain, when pain is felt in an area of the body that was not directly injured. Such pain often dissipates after time, but if it persists, a doctor's visit may be in order to determine whether a more serious issue has developed. More often, however, pain in the groin and lower back are due to a pelvic imbalance, in which the pelvis essentially twists because muscles are over-tightened and joints are not working properly.