Physiotherapy Techniques for Treating Sports Hernias

A sports hernia, also known as athletic pubalgia, is a painful condition that often affects athletes involved in high-intensity sports requiring sudden changes in direction, such as soccer, football, hockey, and tennis. It typically involves injury to the muscles or tendons in the lower abdomen or groin area and can severely limit an athlete’s ability to perform. While surgery is sometimes necessary for sports hernias, physiotherapy plays a pivotal role in both treating and preventing the condition. At Next Step Physiotherapy , our expert sports physiotherapy Edmonton specializes in personalized treatment programs designed to reduce pain, promote healing, and improve strength and mobility.

What is a Sports Hernia?

A sports hernia occurs when there is damage to the soft tissues of the groin area, such as the abdominal muscles or the tendons attaching muscles to bones. This type of hernia does not result in a visible bulge like a traditional hernia, which is why it is sometimes difficult to diagnose. The main symptoms of a sports hernia include:

Pain that worsens with sudden movements or twisting
Difficulty performing sports movements like sprinting or kicking
Tenderness in the groin area

Although the injury is common in athletes, it can also affect non-athletic individuals, especially those who engage in heavy lifting or participate in strenuous activities.

How Physiotherapy Helps Treat Sports Hernias
Physiotherapy is an effective non-surgical treatment for sports hernias and is typically recommended as the first line of treatment. At Next Step Physiotherapy in Edmonton, our physiotherapists employ various techniques to alleviate pain, promote tissue healing, and improve strength and flexibility. Here’s how physiotherapy can help treat a sports hernia:

Manual Therapy
Manual therapy includes hands-on techniques like soft tissue mobilization, massage, and joint manipulation. These techniques help improve blood flow to the injured area, relax tight muscles, and reduce pain and swelling. Manual therapy can also aid in realigning the muscles and tendons, allowing them to heal properly.

Stretching and Flexibility Exercises
After a sports hernia injury, the affected muscles often become tight and restricted. Stretching exercises, customized by your physiotherapist, can help lengthen the muscles and restore normal movement patterns. Increasing flexibility in the groin, hips, and lower abdomen is crucial for reducing tension on the injured tissues and preventing future strains.

Strengthening Exercises
A sports hernia injury weakens the muscles in the groin and abdominal area. Strengthening exercises are a key component of recovery, as they help rebuild muscle strength and stability. These exercises often target the hip flexors, abdominal muscles, and pelvic floor muscles. Strengthening these muscles allows them to better support the groin and abdominal region during physical activities, which helps reduce the risk of re-injury.

Core Stabilization Exercises
Core stabilization exercises are especially important for athletes recovering from a sports hernia. A strong core provides better overall body control and lessens the strain on the groin and abdominal muscles. Core exercises help to improve posture and maintain proper alignment, which can prevent the recurrence of sports hernias and other musculoskeletal injuries.

Neuromuscular Re-education
Neuromuscular re-education is designed to retrain the body’s muscles and nervous system to work together efficiently. This technique helps restore proper movement patterns and improves coordination, which is essential for athletes who need to return to their sport without risking further injury.

Treatment Progression at Next Step Physiotherapy
The recovery process for a sports hernia typically involves several stages, which are persona