A sports hernia is an injury that affects athletes who play intense sports. It usually happens during activities that involve twisting, quick direction changes, and sudden, strong movements. At the same time, it is not usually serious. However, getting sports hernia treatment can help prevent ongoing pain and long-term problems.
Where Do Sport Hernias Occur in the Body?
Sports hernias affect the soft tissue in your lower abdomen or groin area. The commonly affected tissues include:
- The oblique muscles in your lower abdomen.
- Tendons that connect your oblique muscles to your pubic bone (part of your pelvis).
- The tendons that connect your thigh muscles to your pubic bone (part of your pelvis).
Sports Hernia Causes
Sports hernias occur due to repeated or sudden movements, especially those that involve twisting the pelvis. These include football, hockey, soccer, rugby, skiing, running, and hurdling. The soft tissues in the lower abdomen and pubic area, which help with these movements, are often torn or injured.
Sports Hernia Symptoms
A sports hernia often causes pain in your groin or lower abdomen. The pain may ease when you rest. However, it often returns when you start moving again.
A sign that your groin pain is from a sports hernia is if sit-ups are particularly painful. Any twisting movements of your upper body can also make you wince in pain.
Sports Hernia Treatment without Surgery
Treating a sports hernia involves a team approach, and nonsurgical options are usually tried first. Rest, anti-inflammatory medication, ice, and physical therapy are often enough to help with mild to moderate symptoms.
Sports Hernia Surgery
Patients with severe tears might need surgery to fix the torn tendons. Hernia specialists and general surgeons often consult an orthopedic surgeon for this type of surgery.
Sports hernia repair can be done in two ways: traditional open surgery with one long cut or minimally invasive endoscopic surgery. In endoscopic surgery, the surgeon makes several small cuts and uses a tube with a camera (endoscope) to see inside the abdomen. They then repair the torn tissue using stitches, small anchors, skin glue, or synthetic mesh.
If the small inguinal nerve in the groin is damaged or scarred from years of activity, the surgeon can also cut this nerve during the surgery to relieve pain. This is called an inguinal neurectomy.
Sports Hernia Recovery Time
Recovering after a non-surgical sports hernia treatment usually involves:
- Rest: Take about 2 weeks to rest and let the soft tissues in your groin heal.
- Physical Therapy: Follow 4 to 6 weeks of physical therapy to improve strength, flexibility, and mobility.
After physical therapy, you can typically return to sports. If you have surgery, recovery might take several weeks, but you can often get back to athletic activities within 12 weeks. The chance of the hernia coming back after surgery is usually low.
With the right treatment, the outlook is generally good. Rest and rehab, including active exercises, can help you get back to your normal activities and prevent future problems.
Wrapping Up
Sports hernias usually heal on their own. However, returning to sports after an at-home sports hernia treatment can make it reoccur anytime. Therefore, it is always better to consult a specialist.
Visit Dr. Rick Q. NGO at Texas Hernia & Surgical Specialists. Our hernia specialist has performed over 1500 procedures throughout his long-standing career. Call us at (888) 365-1544 for an appointment.