Symptoms and Diagnosis

The major complaint of people with a sports hernia is groin pain, which usually occurs during exercise or other physical activity. The pain may be worse with sudden movement such as sprinting, kicking, sidestepping, sneezing, or coughing.

This is chronic condition that may be misdiagnosed during an initial visit to a primary care physician for groin pain. The physician may recommend rest and applying heat and ice, as well as anti-inflammatory drugs and physical therapy. If these don't relieve symptoms, the physician probably will refer the person to a specialist for further evaluation.

The best way to identify athletic pubalgia is by taking a thorough history and performing a physical exam. An MRI scan can often identify a tear, and a bone scan may reveal inflammation of the pubic bone. Plain x-rays are usually normal. The scans are usually done to rule out any other injury.