Treating Sports Hernias

Are you experiencing groin pain after a strain or tear in the groin area from a sports injury? You may be dealing with a sports hernia. Sports hernias are a common injury among athletes, especially long-distance runners, hockey players, and lacrosse athletes. These sports have a high concentration of repetitive kicking, twisting, cutting, or turning movements. Upon injury, it is important to receive sports hernia physical therapy with Peak Physical Therapy. Read on to learn more about the origin of sports hernias and injury treatment with our sports therapist near me.

Signs and Symptoms

The first sign of a sports hernia is commonly noted by sports hernia physical therapy professionals as severe pain in the groin area at the time of the injury. Most commonly, sports hernias occur after repetitive explosive motions. The high concentration of soft tissues in the inguinal region makes the groin a vulnerable place for soft tissue tears. In addition to soft tissues being torn, the tendons that attach the thigh muscles to the pubic bone may also be often stretched or torn. Symptoms can worsen with running, cutting, coughing, and sneezing.

While a sports hernia is not an inguinal hernia, it can turn into an inguinal hernia if left untreated by our sports hernia physical therapy experts. It is possible for abdominal organs to press against the soft tissues, forming a bulge. Without treatment, what is an easily curable injury can result in chronic, disabling pain that has the potential to keep you from returning to your favorite sport.

Treatment

At the start of your sports hernia physical therapy appointment at Peak Physical Therapy, we will conduct a consultation to discover the origin of the injury along with a physical examination of the injury site. One of the determining factors as to whether you have a sports hernia is the sit-up test. During the test, we will ask you to perform a sit-up or flex your torso against resistance. Conducting this test successfully with a sports hernia is painful, which is a sign that you may have a sports hernia.

For the first seven to ten days after your consultation, your sports therapist near me recommends that you conduct the R.I.C.E. method to allow your body the time that it needs to begin the healing process. If you begin to develop a visible bulge, compression may help to relieve pain.

At about two weeks post-injury, it’s time to begin sports hernia physical therapy. At Peak Physical Therapy, your sports therapist near me will treat you with a combination of practices, including:

• Manual soft tissue mobilization
• Stretching
• Joint mobilizations

Our sports hernia physical therapy team most commonly utilizes these treatment methods to reduce the strain of the soft tissue and increase your range of motion. Through the use of these treatments, you will also experience restored muscle balance through the improvement of muscle activation, flexibility, and functional strengthening. In addition to the practices you will conduct in-office, your sports therapist near me will provide you with an at-home exercise program to maximize your results.

Peak Physical Therapy | Sports Hernia Physical Therapy

Peak Physical Therapy is dedicated to supporting you in your healing process. With sports hernia physical therapy practices backed by the latest research, our team of experts is qualified to treat you with comprehensible, individualized care. With locations throughout Massachusetts, there is a sports therapist near me wherever you are. For more information regarding our sports hernia physical therapy services, visit our website or contact us today.