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Take time off to recover from sports hernia
Category: General Sports Injuries
Apr 16, 2006
If you ask Philadelphia Eagles fans about Donovan McNabb's trying times in the NFL this season, they're likely to refer to the sports hernia that forced him to cut short his playing time. If you ask them to explain a sports hernia, you're much less likely to get a straight answer to your question.
A sports hernia is a diagnosis that has received increased attention in recent years and may constitute up to 5 percent of all sports injuries. Also known as "athletic pubalgia," it causes pain in the area of the groin or lower abdomen. Men are more likely than women to experience a sports hernia, and it is one of the more common injuries among soccer players. Athletes who play ice hockey, rugby, field hockey or tennis or compete in track events also are at greater risk for developing sports hernias.
A sports hernia is different from the more easily recognized inguinal hernia. An inguinal hernia results from a defect in the inguinal ligament (the groin) and bulges out so that it is typically visible. Treatment for this kind of hernia is surgery.
A sports hernia can be more difficult and take more time to diagnose. Repetitive twisting, turning and bending result in a tear in the muscles of the lower abdomen or inguinal canal (groin area). The tear causes pain in the lower abdomen or groin and on one side, and is usually worse with sudden movements such as sprinting, kicking, sneezing and coughing. The pain may start slowly but get gradually worse with continued activity.
In order to make the diagnosis, your health care provider will take a history and perform a physical exam, likely detecting some tenderness in the lower abdomen and at the top of the groin. There are no specific tests to make the diagnosis, but some tests such as X-rays or bone scans may be done to rule out other causes of groin pain.
Initial treatment for a sports hernia includes resting from aggravating physical activity, taking anti-inflammatory medications (such as ibuprofen or naproxen) and using ice treatments and physical therapy to ease the pain. Healing will take longer if there is continued participation in activities that cause pain. And, if these conservative measures do not relieve the symptoms of a sports hernia, surgery may be recommended to repair the weakened area of the abdominal wall.
If you're someone who is determined to continue playing a sport or activity that might have led to a sports hernia, you may be happy to know that several clinical studies have shown between 65 percent and 90 percent of athletes are able to return to their activities after surgery. Rehabilitation from sports hernia surgery usually takes about eight weeks, although individual recovery time may vary. In general, the longer you have had symptoms before you start treatment, the longer it will take to get better.
If you have never had a sports hernia but are involved in repetitive twisting and turning movements at speeds that put you at risk, you should try to find ways to prevent groin injuries before they happen. Conditioning that improves pelvic and hip flexibility, stability and balance is recommended. In addition, many physical therapy providers can tailor exercise programs based on athletes' physical shape and the conditioning requirements of the sports they wish to continue playing. For example, Physical Therapy PLUS offers specialized strength and conditioning programs for a variety of sports, as well as free seminars for players, coaches and parents.