How effective is sports physiotherapy for sports hernia?

Sports hernia, also called athletic pubalgia, describes activity-related pain around the lower abdomen, pubic region, or groin rather than a simple muscle strain in every case. Cutting, kicking, sprinting, and resisted trunk or hip movements may provoke symptoms. Rehabilitation can address hip and trunk strength, adductor capacity, pelvic control, mobility, and the way force is transferred during sport. It may be appropriate when symptoms respond to graded loading, but physiotherapy cannot confirm the diagnosis on its own or repair every structural cause of pain.

Start with an examination that considers the hip joint, abdominal wall, adductors, pubic area, and lower back. Temporarily reduce painful sprinting, kicking, and cutting, then maintain suitable conditioning through activities that do not reproduce symptoms. Progress from controlled trunk and hip exercises to resisted adduction, running, acceleration, and sport-specific drills. If symptoms remain unchanged despite a structured programme, ask whether imaging or a surgical opinion is appropriate. Learn more about [Sports Physiotherapy](/treatments/physiotherapy-and-rehabilitation/sports-physiotherapy/).

Seek prompt medical assessment for a groin bulge, severe abdominal or testicular pain, vomiting, fever, inability to bear weight, or sudden weakness. Arrange review for pain that persists at rest, wakes you, worsens progressively, or repeatedly returns with sport. These symptoms may indicate another condition that needs different care.

What structures could be causing my pain? Is this consistent with athletic pubalgia or a different problem? Which exercises and activities are suitable now? When should I consider imaging, a specialist review, or another treatment?