title: Minimum reporting standards for clinical research on groin pain in athletes.
abstract: Groin pain in athletes is a priority area for sports physiotherapy and sports medicine research. Heterogeneous studies with low methodological quality dominate research related to groin pain in athletes. Low-quality studies undermine the external validity of research findings and limit the ability to generalise findings to the target patient population. Minimum reporting standards for research on groin pain in athletes are overdue. We propose a set of minimum reporting standards based on best available evidence to be utilised in future research on groin pain in athletes. Minimum reporting standards are provided in relation to: (1) study methodology, (2) study participants and injury history, (3) clinical examination, (4) clinical assessment and (5) radiology. Adherence to these minimum reporting standards will strengthen the quality and transparency of research conducted on groin pain in athletes. This will allow an easier comparison of outcomes across studies in the future.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Population Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland Institute for Sport and Health, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Eamonn
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Delahunt
authors.affiliation: Sports Orthopedic Research Center-Copenhagen (SORC-C), Arthroscopic Center Amager, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Copenhagen University Hospital, Amager-Hvidovre, Denmark.
authors.forename: Kristian
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Thorborg
authors.affiliation: Aspetar Sports Groin Pain Center, Aspetar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: Karim M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Leeds Musculoskeletal Biomedical Research Unit, Leeds Teaching Hospitals, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.affiliation: Sports Orthopedic Research Center-Copenhagen (SORC-C), Arthroscopic Center Amager, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Copenhagen University Hospital, Amager-Hvidovre, Denmark Aspetar Sports Groin Pain Center, Aspetar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hölmich
authors.affiliation: Aspetar Sports Groin Pain Center, Aspetar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Weir
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D006119:Groin / Q000293:injuries*; D006801:Humans; D008487:Medical History Taking / Q000592:standards; D053580:Muscle Strength; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000592:standards; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012015:Reference Standards; D012107:Research Design; D057566:Self Report; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Groin; Research