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An Insider's Look at Sports Hernias

Chronic groin pain during exercise can be hard to diagnose. This report sheds some light on sports hernia as the most common cause of groin pain among athletes. A hernia is defined as a weakness of the abdominal wall. Part of the bowel pushes through an opening in the weak area, forming the hernia.

Sports hernia refers to a particular kind of hernia and the fact that pain occurs during sports activities. The exact problem isn't clear and may differ from player to player. Doctors say weakness of the tissues around the inguinal canal leads to tears and separation of the tissues. The inguinal canal is formed by fascia to the abdominal muscles on one side and the internal oblique abdominal muscle on the other. Inside the canal is the spermatic cord in men and the round ligament in women.

In this study, 14 players had undiagnosed groin pain for three months or more. Rest and conservative treatment didn't help. The pain kept the athletes from their sport, work, or exerting themselves. Other symptoms included only local tenderness. There was no swelling.

X-rays and imaging studies failed to show the cause of the problem. Doctors did surgery to look inside the abdomen. The doctors used an endoscope, a special tool with a light on the end, to look inside the abdomen. In all but three cases, the patients had a sports hernia. The three other patients had a fatty tumor called a lipoma. Surgery was done to repair the hernia or remove the tumor.

The authors report that 13 patients were able to return to full activity. All 13 were able to return to their sporting activity within three months. The researchers recommend an endoscopic exam in any athlete with groin pain of unknown cause. During the endoscopy any damage found can also be repaired at the same time, saving time and money.

References: Jolanda Kluin, PhD, et al. Endoscopic Evaluation and Treatment of Groin Pain in the Athlete. In The American Journal of Sports Medicine. June 2004. Vol. 32. No. 4. Pp. 944-949.

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