Groin pain may be quite troublesome, particularly if it interferes with movement, lifting, exercising, and resuming sporting activities. Inguinal hernia and sports hernia are two distinct conditions that are commonly confused for one another; however, despite their similar symptoms of groin pain or lower abdominal pain, they are two distinct ailments that require completely different diagnoses and treatments.
An inguinal hernia happens when tissue, like fat or part of the intestine, pushes through a weak spot in the lower abdominal wall. This usually causes a bulge in the groin that you might notice when standing, coughing, straining, or lifting. A sports hernia, also called athletic pubalgia, is different. It is usually a soft-tissue injury affecting muscles, tendons, or attachments in the lower abdomen or groin. A sports hernia is not actually a true hernia, while an inguinal hernia is tissue pushing through a weak spot in the abdominal muscles.
An inguinal hernia occurs when the tissue from the abdomen protrudes through the abdominal wall via the inguinal canal. The inguinal canal lies at the level of the groin. The anatomy of the inguinal canal predisposes men to inguinal hernias due to the presence of the spermatic cord.
An individual may notice a soft bulge in the groin area that increases in size with upright posture, coughing, exertion, or straining. Some individuals may experience pain, heaviness, pressure, and a burning sensation; others are asymptomatic. A patient should note that this condition will not resolve spontaneously but rather become progressively larger if tissue becomes trapped or loses its blood supply. In some cases, this can turn into a medical emergency.
An inguinal hernia often causes a visible or noticeable bulge in the groin, which may become more obvious when standing, coughing, lifting, or straining. Patients may also feel pain, pressure, heaviness, or burning in the groin area. If the bulge becomes painful, firm, discoloured, or cannot be pushed back in, urgent medical care may be needed.
An inguinal hernia usually develops because of weakness in the lower abdominal wall. This weakness may be present from birth or develop over time due to heavy lifting, chronic coughing, constipation, straining, obesity, ageing, previous abdominal surgery, or increased abdominal pressure.
A sports hernia is not usually a true hernia because there is no intestine or abdominal tissue pushing through the abdominal wall. The more accurate terms are athletic pubalgia or core muscle injury.
It usually involves a strain, tear, or weakness in the muscles, tendons, or soft tissues of the lower abdomen, inner thigh, or groin. Sports hernias are common in athletes who perform twisting, sprinting, kicking, cutting, or sudden direction changes.
Unlike an inguinal hernia, a sports hernia usually does not cause a visible groin bulge. The pain may improve with rest but often returns when the person resumes exercise, sport, or twisting movements.
A sports hernia usually causes deep groin or lower abdominal pain during physical activity. The pain may worsen with twisting, sprinting, kicking, sit-ups, or sudden direction changes. Unlike an inguinal hernia, a sports hernia usually does not cause a visible bulge, so it can sometimes be mistaken for a muscle strain or hip injury.
A sports hernia is usually caused by repetitive stress or sudden forceful movement involving the lower abdomen, pelvis, hips, and groin. It is more common in athletes and active adults who perform twisting, sprinting, kicking, pivoting, or rapid direction changes.
| Feature | Inguinal Hernia | Sports Hernia |
|---|---|---|
| Type of Problem | True hernia | Soft tissue injury |
| Bulge | Common | Usually absent |
| Cause | Tissue pushes through abdominal wall weakness | Muscle or tendon injury in the lower abdomen or groin |
| Pain Pattern | Worse with lifting, coughing, bending, or straining | Worse with twisting, sprinting, kicking, or cutting |
| Common Patient | Adults, especially men; can occur with ageing or strain | Athletes and active adults |
| Diagnosis | Physical exam, sometimes imaging | Physical exam and imaging to rule out other causes |
| Treatment | Often surgical repair if symptomatic or enlarging | Physical therapy first; surgery if symptoms persist |
| Specialist | General surgeon | Sports medicine, orthopaedics, or general surgery depending on findings |
Diagnosis begins with a physical examination and a careful review of symptoms. For an inguinal hernia, the doctor may check for a groin bulge while the patient stands, coughs, or strains.
The main difference is that an inguinal hernia is a true hernia, while a sports hernia is usually a soft tissue injury.
In a suspected sports hernia, the examination may focus on pain with resisted movements, abdominal contraction, hip motion, and tenderness in the lower abdomen or pubic area.
Imaging such as ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI may be recommended if the diagnosis is unclear or if other of groin pain need to be ruled out.
Treatment depends on the size of the hernia, symptoms, and risk of complications. Small hernias with minimal symptoms may sometimes be monitored, but painful or enlarging inguinal hernias often require surgical repair.
Surgical options may include open hernia repair, laparoscopic hernia repair, or robotic-assisted hernia repair. The goal is to return the tissue to its proper position and reinforce the weakened area of the abdominal wall.
At Healthy Life Bariatrics, Dr. Moein provides general surgery care in Los Angeles, including evaluation and treatment of hernias using appropriate surgical techniques based on each patient’s condition.
Sports hernia treatment often begins with non-surgical care. This may include rest, anti-inflammatory medication, physical therapy, core strengthening, hip mobility exercises, and gradual return to activity.
If symptoms continue despite conservative treatment, surgery may be considered. The best treatment plan depends on the severity of the injury, the patient’s activity level, and whether other conditions are present.
If you have persistent groin pain, a bulge in your groin area, a feeling of pressure in the lower abdomen, and increased pain while lifting, straining, exercising, or coughing, you should consider visiting a surgeon. Such symptoms may be associated with an inguinal hernia; however, there are many other types of hernias that may cause such problems in your groin area or abdomen.
Depending on the location of the pain, bulges, and pressure, you may want to check yourself for an epigastric hernia or hiatal hernia, or other types of hernias. Having a surgical consult will help clarify your diagnosis and determine further actions.
Whereas an inguinal hernia and sports hernia have the same symptomatology with regard to groin pain, there are differences between the two, which necessitate a different form of treatment for each one. The inguinal hernia is a hernia proper wherein the tissues protrude from a weakness in the abdominal muscles and can create a mass on the groin area. A sports hernia is usually a soft tissue injury involving the muscles, tendons, or connective tissue of the lower abdomen or groin.
Recovery is also an important part of treatment planning. Understanding Hernia Surgery Recovery can help patients prepare for downtime, activity restrictions, and a safe return to work, exercise, and daily routines.
If you are experiencing ongoing groin or abdominal symptoms, you can schedule an appointment through the Healthy Life Bariatrics contact page.
You may also call directly: (310) 861-4093