A sports hernia, more properly known as athletic pubalgia, is a condition characterized by a tear in the muscle along the inguinal canal, the area of the abdomen just above the groin. Athletes appear to be particularly prone to the condition because they tend to be very hard on their bodies, engaging in repetitive motion, high-speed activities, and rough sports which can damage muscle tissue. This condition is classically treated through simple rest, although it can also be treated surgically.
Technically, a sports hernia isn’t a hernia at all. An inguinal hernia is a condition in which the abdominal wall weakens, allowing the intestines to protrude through it. When someone has a true inguinal hernia, a bulge at the site can be felt, and a surgical repair is required to strengthen the abdominal wall and push the herniated intestines back into place. A sports hernia does involve weakened muscles, but the muscles simply tear or pull away from the abdominal wall, and no pocket of intestines is formed.
This condition is characterized by pain around the stomach or groin. Male athletes also experience pain in the testicles. Since athletes tend to work through pain, a sports hernia can progress and become much worse before an athlete seeks treatment, and athletes also tend to go back into training too quickly, so the injury never has a chance to fully heal, and it may recur.
Rest is the best treatment, since it allows the muscles to heal themselves. Some athletes also use anti-inflammatory drugs, ice packs, and gentle stretching to ease inflammation in the area and promote elastic muscles. Stretching can also reduce the risk of recurrence by providing more flexibility and strengthening the abdominal muscles so that they cannot tear as easily. Yoga and pilates, both of which encourage the development of strong core muscles, are often good additions to a training schedule to prevent the occurrence of sports hernias.
Some athletes pursue surgical repairs for a sports hernia, which is certainly an option. Even with surgery, however, a sports hernia can take an athlete out of commission for quite a while. Up to a year of recovery time may be needed to allow the injury to heal fully and to ease back into training, and many athletes feel that they need to go back to work sooner to keep their places on sports teams. A doctor should always be consulted before resuming training after such an injury, and before increasing the intensity of training.