Skip to main content

Sports Hernias, Sports Medicine

Warren Young, MD, FAAP and William W. Briner, Jr., MD, FACSM, FAAFP, CAQSM Reviewed 04/2019
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • The sports hernia is a syndrome of chronic pain owing to weakness or injury to the posterior inguinal canal, conjoined tendon, common adductor origin, external oblique aponeurosis, a...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • Activity-related lower abdominal and proximal adductor-related pain with quick acceleration, deceleration, kicking, twisting, or lateral movement

  • Often occurs in soccer players from ha...

TREATMENT

GENERAL MEASURES

  • Nonoperative treatment should be attempted prior to surgical consideration.

  • Nonsurgical rehabilitation treatment:

    • Initial 6- to 8-wk period of rest with supportive care (nonste...

REFERENCES

1
Elattar O, Choi H, Dills VD, et al. Groin injuries (athletic pubalgia) and return to play. Sports Health.  2016;8(4):313–323.
2
Sheen AJ, Stephenson BM, Lloyd DM, et al. “Treatment of t...

ADDITIONAL READING

  • Khan W, Zoga A, Meyers WC. Magnetic resonance imaging of athletic pubalgia and the sports hernia: current understanding and practice. Mag Reson Imaging Clin N Am.  2013;21(1):9...

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • A sports hernia is a weakness or injury of the posterior inguinal canal with no protrusion of bowel into the canal.

  • There is no palpable hernia on exam.

  • Symptoms are likely to resolve wi...

Subscribe to Access Full Content

Sign Up for a 10-Day Free Trial

Sign up for a 10-day FREE Trial now and receive full access to all content.

×