Sports Hernia: What Athletes Need to Know
By: Benton A. Emblom, MD
Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Surgeon & Hip Preservation Specialist
INTRODUCTION
As athletes push their bodies to the limit, groin pain is a common - and often confusing - complaint. What many people call a “groin pull” may actually be something far more complex: a sports hernia, or what specialists today refer to as a core muscle injury.
“A sports hernia is one of the most misunderstood injuries in athletics,” says Dr. Benton A. Emblom, orthopaedic sports medicine surgeon at Andrews Sports Medicine. “Athletes often spend weeks or months chasing the wrong diagnosis before they land in the right hands.”
At Andrews Sports Medicine in Birmingham, Alabama, Dr. Emblom has become one of the premier sports hernia specialists in the United States, treating athletes ranging from high school competitors to SEC standouts and professional-level performers.
What is a Sports Hernia?
A sports hernia is not a traditional abdominal hernia. There is usually no visible bulge, which is one reason the injury is so commonly misdiagnosed.
“A sports hernia is a tear of the core muscle attachments where the abdomen and inner thigh muscles meet,” Dr. Emblom explains. “It’s a structural failure at the center of the athlete’s power base.”
These tears often occur where the rectus abdominis (lower abdominal muscle) connects to the adductor longus (inner thigh muscle) - a critical junction for explosive athletic movement.
Who Gets Sports Hernias?
Sports hernias are most common in athletes who must:
- Sprint
- Cut & change direction
- Twist or rotate under load
- Kick forcefully
- Engage the core explosively
Football players, soccer players, hockey players, baseball athletes, lacrosse players, track athletes, and tennis players are especially at risk.
“If your sport demands power through the hips and core, a sports hernia is on the list of possible injuries,” says Dr. Emblom. “It can take even the toughest athlete off the field.”
Common Symptoms
Athletes often describe:
- Sharp groin pain
- Pain with sprinting, sit-ups, or cutting
- Pain that improves with rest, but returns with activity
- Radiating pain toward the testicle or inner thigh
- Weakness in the core or hip flexor
“The biggest red flag is an athlete who keeps ‘resting and returning’ but never fully recovers,” Dr. Emblom notes. “That cycle is classic for a sports hernia.”
Why Sports Hernias are so Hard to Diagnose
Sports hernias mimic many other injuries - adductor strains, hip flexor strains, hip labral tears, even nerve irritation.
“Sports hernias live in a crowded neighborhood anatomically,” Dr. Emblom says.
“It takes an experienced eye to separate core muscle injuries from hip problems, adductor problems, or true abdominal hernias.”
Dr. Emblom uses a combination of:
- Detailed athlete history
- Precise physical exam techniques
- Ultrasound
- MRI
- Hip/core/adductor strength analysis
Dr. Emblom uses a combination of:
This comprehensive evaluation is essential, especially in high-level athletes where surgical decision-making must be exact.
Treatment Options
Non-Surgical Care
For some athletes, rest, rehabilitation, and strengthening programs can reduce symptoms.
“We always start with the most conservative, athlete-friendly approach,” Dr. Emblom says. “But when an athlete has true structural tearing, physical therapy alone can’t fix the problem.”
Surgical Repair
When symptoms persist, Dr. Emblom performs a mini-open core muscle repair to reinforce and restore the abdominal–adductor connection.
His technique is used by elite athletes across the southeast and the nation.
“The goal of surgery is simple - restore the anatomy, stabilize the core, and get the athlete back to their sport with confidence,” he explains.
If symptoms persist, surgery may be the most effective option. Dr. Emblom uses a focused technique that repairs the injured tissue and restores strength and balance between the abdominal and inner thigh muscles.
Most athletes return to light movement within four to six weeks. Full speed training typically resumes around the three-month mark. The success rate is extremely high, and long term outcomes are strong when the injury is diagnosed early and correctly treated.
Outcomes & Return to Play
Athletes who receive an accurate diagnosis and the appropriate treatment plan—whether conservative or surgical - typically experience excellent outcomes. Modern sports hernia repair techniques have advanced significantly over the past decade, allowing high-performance athletes to recover faster and more predictably than in the past.
Dr. Benton Emblom treats approximately 50 athletes each year for sports hernias, many of whom compete at the collegiate or professional level. Based on current sports medicine research and his own clinical experience, most athletes are able to:
- Return to controlled movement within 4–6 weeks after surgery
- Begin progressive sport-specific training between 8–10 weeks
- Return to full-speed competition around the 10–12 week mark, depending on the demands of their sport and the consistency of their rehabilitation
While recovery timelines may vary, the vast majority of motivated athletes safely return to their pre-injury level of performance.
“Most athletes feel significantly better within just a few weeks,” Dr. Emblom says.
“With a structured rehab plan and a strong core foundation, athletes can return to play quickly - and with greater confidence - than before the injury.”
Why Athletes Seek Dr. Emblom
Dr. Emblom is widely regarded as a leading U.S. expert in sports hernia care due to his:
- High surgical volume
- Experience treating elite-level athletes
- Advanced minimally invasive repair techniques
- Leadership at Andrews Sports Medicine and ASMI
- Role as team physician for Auburn University, the University of Alabama, and numerous high schools
When to Seek Help
If you’ve had persistent groin pain for more than 4–6 weeks, or if you’ve been diagnosed with multiple “groin strains” without full recovery, a sports hernia evaluation is recommended.
“You don’t have to live in pain or keep guessing,” Dr. Emblom says.
“With the right diagnosis, athletes can finally get their answers—and get their career back on track.”
Request an Appointment
If you think you may have a sports hernia or core muscle injury, call (205) 939-3699 or request an appointment online with Dr. Benton A. Emblom at Andrews Sports Medicine.
About Benton A. Emblom, MD
Benton A. Emblom, MD is a board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeon at Andrews Sports Medicine in Birmingham, Alabama, specializing in sports medicine, hip preservation, and the treatment of sports hernias (athletic pubalgia). He serves as the Head Team Orthopaedic Surgeon for Auburn Athletics and is also a team physician for the University of Alabama, Hoover High School and several high-school programs, giving him extensive experience caring for athletes at every level.
Dr. Emblom is dedicated to helping patients overcome core and groin injuries, return to peak performance, and achieve Victory Over Injury. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Emblom, call 205-939-3699 or request an appointment online.
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