WITH the hard work of pre-season training over and league games under way it is a time for players to enter the long haul until next May.

Every team will be hoping to keep their key players on the pitch, so avoiding early season injuries is vital. These can wreck any manager's plans, especially if they result in the loss of a vital squad member for many weeks or months.

One of the most common causes of a player missing games is a groin injury.

This affects a complicated area of the body. The groin is the junction between the lower abdomen, which requires to be relatively stable, and lower limbs, which need great mobility.

A complex pattern of vital muscles, ligaments and tendons also cross through the groin.

The exact diagnosis of a groin injury can be difficult because the pain can result from other sources such as the hip joint, lower back and even bowel disease.

Groin injuries are often complex, with two or more factors co-existing.

The most common cause is a strain of the adductor muscles, located in the inside of the thigh. These control movement of the leg away from the body. In the classic groin injury it is the muscle tendon that becomes stretched and inflamed.

A number of factors can increase the likelihood of getting a groin strain. The most common is sudden movement such as sprinting, changing direction or hitting the ground after a jump.

This is particularly likely early in the match if the warm-up has been inadequate, or later in the game, if fatigue is present.

Strenuous activity with limited recovery, or direct trauma, such as in a tackle, may also result in a groin injury. A player will most commonly feel a sudden sharp pain in the groin, which usually causes him to stop.

Diagnosis is usually easy with the pain evident on direct pressure on the tendon as it runs from the muscle up into the groin. Moving the leg out to the side against resistance will reproduce the pain.

As with other soft tissue injuries, rest, ice and anti-inflammatory medicines will help in the first 48 to 72 hours to minimise pain and speed up recovery.

The degree of "stretch" and muscle damage will determine the length of time off sport. Resist your natural desire to start running and playing too early as incomplete rehabilitation may lead to a reoccurrence.

Severe tears may mean up to eight weeks out. Muscle strengthening and groin stretches are vital to prevent repeated injury.

Players should follow a structured rehabilitation programme and try to increase flexibility and the range of movement of the groin. Fitness can be maintained by swimming - although avoid breaststroke - and gentle cycling.

The National Stadium Sports Health and Injury Clinic can be contacted on 0141 616 6161 or www.sportsmedicinecentre.org