Sports Hernia & Athletic Pubalgia Treatment

A sports hernia, also known as athletic pubalgia, is an injury involving the soft tissue structures of the lower abdominal wall, groin, and pubic region.

Unlike a traditional inguinal hernia, there is no protrusion of abdominal contents. Instead, the condition involves strain or tearing of the tissues that attach near the pubic bone, often including:

Lower abdominal muscles

Adductor tendons

Connective tissue around the pubic symphysis

Deep core stabilizers

This area is exposed to high forces during:

Sprinting

Cutting

Twisting

Kicking

Explosive directional changes

When the load on these tissues exceeds their ability to recover, pain and dysfunction develop.

Because groin pain can come from several different structures, sports hernias are often mistaken for:

Adductor strains

Hip flexor injuries

Hip labral tears

Osteitis pubis

Inguinal hernias

This is why an accurate evaluation is so important.

Sports hernia symptoms often build gradually and worsen with activity.

Common signs include:

Deep aching pain in the groin or lower abdomen

Pain near the pubic bone

Pain with sprinting, kicking, cutting, or twisting

Pain that improves with rest but returns during sport

Tenderness at the groin or pubic attachment sites

Pain with resisted sit-ups or hip adduction

A sense of weakness or instability in the groin during explosive movement

Pain that may radiate into the inner thigh or lower abdomen

Many athletes report that they can jog or move lightly, but pain increases significantly when they try to sprint, change direction, or kick at full effort.