The Adductor–Rectus Angle: A Novel Magnetic Resonance Imaging Measurement in Healthy Adult Individuals

Abstract Background: Groin pain is a complex musculoskeletal condition, causing significant difficulty in its diagnosis and management. The stability of the anterior pelvis is maintained by the formation of a complex fibrous aponeurotic plate by the rectus abdominis and adductor longus tendons. It is, therefore, vital to have a comprehensive understanding of this condition to guide appropriate management. We aimed to measure the adductor–rectus angle (ARA), which is the angle between the rectus abdominis and adductor longus tendon to establish a normal range in a diverse group of healthy individuals on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with the aim of investigating its possible association with the occurrence of athletic pubalgia. Materials and Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study assessed the ARA in 100 asymptomatic normal healthy individuals who had undergone an MRI of the pelvis. The participants were categorized based on gender and divided into three age groups: under 40, between 40 and 60, and above 60 years. Descriptive statistics were calculated for each group and were followed by a one-way analysis of variance to identify any significant differences between these groups. Results: The mean ARA in the entire study cohort was 135.543° +6.4814°. The ARA did not differ significantly among different age groups or genders. Conclusion: The ARA helps to evaluate pelvic muscles’ alignment and offers valuable insights into the force applied to the fibrous aponeurotic plate. This information could potentially aid in identifying athletes at risk of sports hernias and inform the development of personalized treatment strategies.