Sports Hernia Groin Pain

A sports hernia or athletic pubalgia is a condition of chronic exercise-related supra-inguinal groin pain which can present with a bulge in the inguinal wall whenever the abdominal muscles contract forcefully. Sports hernia’s often cause pelvic pain as a major core muscle is involved. In a sports hernia, there is no defect in the abdominal wall, however, the injury occurs in the form of tears and weakening in the deep layers of the abdominal wall. Sports hernias can occur in both men and women and occur often is active athletic individuals.

Who Is Susceptible to Sports Hernias or Groin Pain?

The majority of patients are young adult males. The athletes at highest risk are runners, skiers, hurdlers, hockey, soccer, baseball and tennis players. On physical examination, a subtle bulge in the skin surface may occasionally be seen over the affected inguinal region when observed from above with the patient standing. Pain may be evoked with a resisted abdominal ‘crunch’ and tenderness elicited most commonly over the lower abdomen.  Many athletes have concomitant weakness or tearing of the adductor muscles or labral tears of the hip.  This may be due to the repetitive microtrauma from constant twisting and turning.  When the adductors muscles are tight post-injury, that can be enough to trigger symptoms discussed above.