7 Ways to Treat a Sports Hernia

A sports hernia differs from a regular hernia but can be just as painful. Here’s what you can do to treat it.Is that pain in your lower abdomen a hernia or a sports hernia? If you play rigorous sports like football or hockey that require sharp twists and turns of the pelvis with your feet planted, you likely suffer from a sports hernia or athletic pubalgia.According to one study, around 5% to 28% of athletes experience a sports hernia, the symptoms of which include pain at the time of injury, followed by an unspecified dull ache in the lower abdomen and groin. There may also be a sharp pain when you sit up or are active after a period of rest. Pain when coughing or sneezing is common as well.So, what exactly is a sports hernia, how is it different from a regular hernia, and what are your treatment options? Here’s a brief primer on what you need to know.Sports hernia vs. regular herniaA sports hernia occurs when the soft tissues of the lower abdomen — the muscles and tendons — are damag...