Successfully Treating A Sports Hernia Without Surgery

Physical Therapy | Written by Jon Chambers | Updated on 14 October 2021

man holds his upper leg in pain and will use the probe method to determine if sports hernia treatment without surgery is possible

Among the countless questions that arise when one finds that they have a sports hernia, possibly the most popular is, “will I need surgery?” The answer is anything but black and white, and it is critical that you do as much research as possible on the topic by thoroughly reading the in-depth guide on sports hernias.

Get the ULTIMATE Sports Hernia Master Guide with 30+ included resources, an in-depth rehabilitation program, tips, tricks, and more! Successfully diagnose, treat, and cure your sports hernia with this complete master guide created by a sports hernia specialist. Note that it is still highly recommended to read this article in full to understand how to get the most out of the guide to treat and cure your sports hernia or groin pain.

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Documented Cases of Treating a Sports Hernia Without Surgery

Currently, there are two case reports published in scientific review journals that show success at relieving pain symptoms using conservative non-surgical rehabilitation methods.

One was a professional hockey player and the other was a professional golfer.

If your sports hernia is a less severe situation, and it happened recently (within the past 4-6 weeks), it is possible that you can recover without a surgical approach. With that said, it is important to properly diagnose your specific situation.

From there, you will need to determine your level of constant pain. If you are in constant 7+/10 pain, your sports hernia is likely severe and will require you to go under the knife.

It is also highly recommended that you visit a specialist trained specifically in the injury. While a general doctor may be able to help, often times their recommendations are not accurate given the complexity of the problem. They will likely suggest a mesh repair, which has far less success rates than the minimal repair technique developed by Dr. Ulrike Muschaweck of the Munich Hernia center.

However, if your pain is transient, or low on the pain scale, you have a much greater chance of seeing success without surgery. As with any rehabilitation process, what you put into it is what you will get out of it. If you dedicate yourself to learning the proper methodologies and procedures, and follow through on a daily basis, you will be leaps and bounds ahead of the person that waits for their doctor or physician to give them the magic pill.

Is Treating a Sports Hernia Without Surgery for Everyone?

There isn’t a magic pill–this specific injury is the result of years of poor movement patterns and unkempt recovery. It will take some time to fix the imbalances that led you here in the first place, but not nearly as long if you know the right steps to take!

Immediately beginning the rehabilitation protocol is critical, regardless of your specific diagnosis (if your goal is freedom from pain).

It is also recommended that you review the groin pull symptoms list to help determine whether you have a less severe injury.

About the Author

Squatting 500 pounds on an ohio rogue bar with a sports hernia

Jon Chambers

Jon Chambers is a powerlifter, strength coach, sports hernia expert, and writer involved in the strength training community for almost a decade on a mission to create the best strength and fitness guides on the web.