Sports hernia
What is sports hernia
Sports hernia is a term used to describe a type of chronic groin pain that may be caused by damage to the soft tissues (muscles, ligaments and tendons) in the groin. It's not actually a true hernia. Chronic refers to a long-standing problem, not how serious a condition is. Sports hernia is more likely in men.
Symptoms
The symptoms of sports hernia include chronic groin pain, often on both sides, which is made worse by exercise, coughing or sneezing. You may also have pain across your pelvis or in your scrotum or testicles. Pain usually develops over time.
Causes
Sports hernia is a complex problem and the exact cause is unknown. It's usually seen in athletes who play sports that involve repetitive twisting and turning, such as hockey, football or tennis. These movements cause stress in the groin area, where the lower abdominal, thigh and pelvic muscles meet. The condition usually gets worse over time as the repetitive movements damage the soft tissues in the groin.
Treatment
The treatment for a sports hernia is varied and may include physiotherapy or surgery. It's important to see a sports medicine professional, such as a physiotherapist or sports medicine doctor who will diagnose and treat your condition.
Surgery is not usually recommended straight away. However if your symptoms haven't improved in six to eight weeks, your doctor may consider surgery. This can be done by keyhole or open surgery. A mesh is usually inserted over the muscle to give it extra support. You will need physiotherapy after surgery but will usually be able to slowly return to sport six to 12 weeks later.
Do
- See your doctor if you have chronic groin pain.
- Follow the exercise programme given to you by your physiotherapist or doctor.
Don't
- Ignore the problem – it won't get better on its own.
- Try to get back to exercising too quickly – take your time to recover.
Peer reviewed by Simon Fairthorne, MCSP, Bupa Sports Medicine physiotherapist
Publication date: June 2009
