What are the treatment options for a sports hernia?
Physical therapy, anti-inflammatory drugs and/or corticosteroids are often needed to treat a sports hernia. In some cases, surgery is needed. A groin injury that is not a sports hernia, such as a mild muscle strain, could heal on its own.
What is a sports hernia (athletic pubalgia)?
Despite its name, a sports hernia (athletic pubalgia) is not a hernia. It’s an injury to a tendon or muscle in your lower abdomen or groin that causes chronic pain.
What is the most common age to get a sports hernia?
Athletes between the ages of 26 and 28 most commonly develop a sports hernia. It is rare for older people and children to get sports hernias. You don’t have to be an athlete to get a lower abdomen or groin injury (sports hernia), but it is more common in athletes.
What are the risk factors for Sportsman’s hernia?
RISK FACTORS Sportsman’s hernia cannot be clearly distinguished from pathologies that present with chronic inguinal pain symptoms. Decreased hip movements, disruption of muscular balance around the pelvis and significant difference in leg length should be considered as risk factors.
Overview
A sports hernia (also called athletic pubalgia, sportsman’s hernia and Gilmore’s groin) is an injury (usually a tear) in the muscles and/or tendons in your lower abdomen or groin that causes chronic pain.
Symptoms and Causes
A sports hernia (athletic pubalgia) happens when the deep layers of your lower abdominal wall or the tendons that attach muscles to your pelvis weaken or tear. The following situations can cause or contribute to a sports hernia:
Diagnosis and Tests
Sports hernias can be difficult to diagnose because many conditions and injuries can cause pain in your groin area, such as hip-joint osteoarthrosis, rectal or testicular pain, or a fracture of the pelvis. In addition, you can feel pain in your groin area from injuries that originate in other parts of your body such as your leg.
Management and Treatment
In general, the goals of sports hernia treatment and rehabilitation are to relieve pain, restore range of motion, restore strength, return function and return to sports and activities.
Prevention
Sports hernias (athletic pubalgia) can be difficult to prevent because of the stress and strain placed on the pelvis and hips in certain sports. Your healthcare team may recommend a sports hernia prevention program if you are at high risk for a core muscle or tendon injury due to the type of sport you play.
Living With
If you’re experiencing symptoms of a sports hernia (athletic pubalgia) be sure to contact your healthcare provider. Sports hernias do not generally heal on their own, so you’ll likely need treatment.
Sports Hernia: What You Need to Know
Mild to moderate sports hernia symptoms can typically be remedied with rest, anti-inflammatory medication and physical therapy.
Why choose Johns Hopkins for sports hernias?
Rely on the expertise of our surgeons to diagnose and repair sports hernias.
What is a sports hernia?
A sports hernia is officially referred to as an athletic pubalgia by health professionals, refers to a condition that usually emerges in the lower region of the abdomen. This is considered to be a soft tissue injury, and this issue transpires due to a sudden movement that involves twisting or a change in direction, ...
What is a hernia?
Hernias – Types, Treatment & Recovery. Hernias are a common health issue that can be experienced by adult men and women, teenage, and even children, and they usually occur as the result of fatty tissue progressing through a spot within a nearby muscle. However, there are multiple forms of hernias, including sports hernias – which is ...
What is the most common form of hernia?
This is the most frequent form of hernia that patients must contend with and is referred to as an inguinal hernia.
Can a hernia be a serious problem?
These hernias do not usually develop into a serious problem. However, the situation can become more concerning if the separated area that has progressed into the abdominal wall is squeezed sufficiently for the supply of blood to be blocked. A less common form of hernia is referred to as femoral which is usually experienced by women.
Is a sports hernia considered a hernia?
However, there are multiple forms of hernias, including sports hernias – which is a condition that is not officially considered to be hernia by the medical community.
Can you rest a hernia?
Resting can decrease discomfort, although any improvement can be temporary if you return to an activity that involves the same body movement that caused the injury. Since a sports hernia can eventually become an inguinal hernia, the symptoms of this more common form of hernia can also emerge if you forego rest and treatment for your sports hernia.
Can a hernia be a femoral hernia?
A less common form of hernia is referred to as femoral which is usually experienced by women. Coughing and straining can provide the trigger for this issue, although it remains rare. Umbilical hernias can emerge in newborns when a portion of the small intestine advances through the abdominal wall, while Hiatal hernias involve an area ...