Sports Medicine: Sports Hernia

Signs and Symptoms

• Dull, achy, pain in groin, lower abdomen, inner thigh, and in males, the testicles
• Pain with moving the hip, running, cutting, skating, or kicking
• Pain when trying to do sit-ups and abdomen crunches
• Groin pain when coughing or sneezing
• Pain that gets better with rest but comes back when activity starts again

Increased Risk

• Males 
• High level of activity 
• Poor physical conditioning (strength and flexibility), coordination, or endurance 
• Sports that require repeated kicking or quick change of direction (soccer, hockey, football)

Treatment

• Medicine
  • Anti-inflammatory medicines, such as ibuprofen (Motrin^® or Advil^®) or naproxen (Aleve^®) may be recommended. Take these as directed by your doctor or health
    care provider.
  • Other minor pain relievers, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol^®) may be taken.
• Use of cold and heat
  • Cold should be applied for 10 to 15 minutes every 2 to 3 hours and after any activity that makes symptoms worse. Use ice packs or an ice massage and raise the foot and ankle at or above heart level to reduce swelling.
  • Heat may be used before doing stretching and strengthening activities prescribed by your doctor, health care provider, or athletic trainer. Use a heat pack or a warm soak. Apply for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Rest
  • Mild to moderate cases respond to rest. However, pain may come back when returning to high levels of activity.
• Exercises
  • Exercises to improve strength and flexibility of the hip and core are helpful. These can be done at home, but often a referral to a physical therapist or athletic trainer may be advised by your doctor or health care provider.
• Surgery
  • Surgery may be needed for pain and symptoms that do not improve.

How to Prevent

• Do proper warm up and stretching before practice or competition.
• Complete rehab before returning to practice or competition.
• Maintain proper conditioning, hip and thigh flexibility, muscle strength and endurance, and cardiovascular fitness.

When to Call the Doctor

Call your doctor, health care provider, or the Sports Medicine team at (614) 355-6000 if:

• Symptoms get worse or do not improve in 2 weeks, even with treatment
• New, unexplained symptoms develop.

Helping Hands Patient Education Materials

Written and illustrated by medical, nursing and allied health professionals at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Helping Hand instructions are intended as a supplement to verbal instructions provided by a medical professional. The information is periodically reviewed and revised to reflect our current practice. However, Nationwide Children's Hospital is not responsible for any consequences resulting from the use or misuse of the information in the Helping Hands.

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