This pain usually radiates to the adductor muscle region and even the testicles, although it is often difficult for the patient to pin-point the exact location.

As pain in the groin and pelvis can be referred from a number of problems, including injuries to the lumbar spine, the hip joint, the sacro-iliac joint, the abdomen, and the genito-urinary system, diagnosis of athletic pubalgia requires skillful differentiation and pubic examination in certain cases where there is intense groin pain.

Conservative therapies (gentle stretching and a short period of rest[10]) may temporarily alleviate the pain, but definitive treatment consists of surgical repair followed by a structured rehabilitation.

[9][11] The first conservative treatment option should be to restore normal motion after the adductor has begun to heal (usually 6–8 weeks post injury).

[12] The exact incidence of these entities is unknown: some believe it is the most common cause of chronic groin pain in athletes, while others argue that it is only rare.