What Is a Sports Hernia?

A sports hernia, also known as athletic pubalgia, is a tear to the lower oblique abdominal muscles. The term sports hernia is is due to the commonness of the condition among athletes.

Features

• Sports hernia symptoms include pain in running, twisting, turning and pivoting. The condition may also cause pain with other motions that emphasize the midsection and groin area, such as crouching and sitting up.

Identification

• Sports hernias are difficult to diagnose and are often misdiagnosed as groin strains. Unless diagnosed immediately by a sports medicine expert, they are often recognized only after repeated misdiagnoses and prolonged pain. There is no single diagnostic test for the condition.

Treatment

• The most common treatment for a sports hernia is prolonged rest and anti-inflammatory medication. Icing the affected area is also recommended. Severe cases of sports hernia are treated with surgery.

Prevention

• Preventing sports hernias is difficult. Along with the standard stretching that all athletes should perform before participation or prolonged exercise, soft tissue "rolls" are a specific preventive technique.

Warning

• If you experience sports hernia symptoms, consult a medical professional immediately for proper diagnosis and treatment. Undiagnosed or incorrectly treated sports hernias can lead to further injury.