If you’ve been active over the years, there’s a chance that you’ve suffered a sports hernia at one time or another. Interestingly, a sports hernia is different than a typical hernia, and by definition, it’s not actually a hernia at all. Today, we take a closer look at sports hernias and how they are treated.
The Causes and Symptoms of Sports Hernias
A sports hernia, often classified in the medical community as “athletic pubalgia,” involves a strain of tear of any soft tissue in the lower abdomen or groin area. Because different tissues can be affected, a traditional hernia, where part of the intestine breaks through a weakened muscle wall, may not exist.
Sports hernias, as you may have guessed, often occur during athletic activity. They most often occur during sudden changes of direction or intense twisting motions, which typically occur in sports like football, soccer and hockey. That being said, they can also occur during routine activities if you overload one area of your body or twist at an odd angle.
Symptoms of a sports hernia include:
- Severe pain in the groin area.
- Pain that gets better with rest.
- No visible bulge in the groin (unlike inguinal hernia).
- Tenderness or bruising of the upper thigh.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Sports Hernias
There is a pretty standard diagnostic process for evaluating sports hernias. Your doctor will begin by asking about your symptoms and what causes them to get worse or alleviate. There will also likely be some physical tests to look for symptom occurrence. If a sports hernia is suspected, your doctor may confirm their suspicions with imaging tests like an X-ray or MRI.
If you have been diagnosed with a sports hernia, your doctor will walk you through your treatment options. The first course of treatment is with conservative care options, which involves rest for 7-10 days, icing, targeted physical therapy to strengthen the area and anti-inflammatory medications. Most sports hernias fully heal with conservative care treatments and 4-6 weeks of physical therapy.
However, if your sports hernia fails to heal from conservative treatment, surgery may be on the table. The operation to repair the torn tissue can be performed with a minimally invasive procedure to strengthen the affected tissues. After the operation, your surgeon will walk you through a surgical rehabilitation plan. Typical rehab plans involve many of the same treatments as the non-operative treatment options, although it can take anywhere from 6-12 weeks of physical therapy before the patient is ready to return to full sports activities. Roughly 90 percent of people who undergo surgery can return to sports within this timeline, while a small minority of patients may suffer an additional tear or failed operation that will require a second procedure.
For more information about sports hernias, or to consult with a hernia surgeon in your area, reach out to Dr. Koeplin today.
