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Signs of a Sports Hernia

Posted: May 1, 2007

One of the most common and often misdiagnosed sports-related injuries is called athletic pubalgia or sports hernia. Athletic pubalgia is a condition caused by overuse of the groin muscles.

The major complaint of people with a sports hernia is groin pain, which usually occurs during exercise or other physical activity. The pain may be worse with sudden movement such as sprinting, kicking, sidestepping, sneezing or coughing.

This is a chronic condition that may be misdiagnosed during an initial visit to a primary care physician for groin pain. The physician may recommend rest and applying heat and ice, as well as anti-inflammatory drugs and physical therapy. If these don't relieve symptoms, the physician probably will refer the person to a specialist for further evaluation.

The best way to identify athletic pubalgia is by taking a thorough history and performing a physical exam. Plain X-rays are usually normal, but an MRI scan can often identify a tear, and a bone scan may reveal inflammation of the pubic bone. The scans are usually done to rule out any other injury.

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