A core muscle injury is a strain or tear affecting muscles in the lower abdomen and groin. These injuries commonly occur in athletes due to intense demands on these muscle groups. While often called a “sports hernia,” this term is misleading as it does not involve an organ protrusion, which defines a true hernia. Instead, it represents damage to muscles or their attachment points, particularly around the pubic bone.
Understanding Core Muscle Injuries
Core muscle injuries affect the soft tissues of the lower abdominal wall and inner thigh adductor muscles. Key muscles involved include the rectus abdominis (abs) and various adductor muscles, which bring the legs together. These muscles attach to the pubic bone and can be subjected to significant opposing forces.
Injuries occur as tears or micro-tears at these attachment points or within the muscle fibers. They often result from sudden, forceful movements like twisting, cutting, sprinting, or explosive actions combining hip extension and rotation. Sports like soccer, hockey, and football frequently involve movements such as kicking, rapid direction changes, or repetitive motions that can overstretch or strain these muscles, especially with core or hip muscle imbalance or weakness.
Identifying the Symptoms
The most common symptom is chronic pain located deep in the groin or lower abdominal muscles. This pain often worsens significantly during physical activities like sprinting, kicking, or rapid changes in direction.
Everyday actions can also intensify discomfort, including coughing, sneezing, or sitting up from a lying position. The pain might radiate from the lower abdomen to the inner thigh or even to the chest or rib area. While a dull ache at rest, it becomes sharp and acute with movement and exertion.
Diagnosis and Management
Diagnosing a core muscle injury begins with a thorough physical examination. The doctor assesses for tenderness in the lower abdomen and groin and evaluates pain responses to specific movements, such as a sit-up or leg raises. The examination must rule out other conditions causing similar pain, such as a true hernia or hip-related issues.
Imaging tests, especially Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), confirm the diagnosis and visualize muscle or tendon damage. While X-rays or ultrasound may be used, MRI is preferred for its ability to show soft tissue injuries more clearly. Management approaches vary depending on injury severity, starting with conservative treatments.
Conservative management includes rest, activity modification to avoid aggravating movements, and anti-inflammatory medications to reduce pain and swelling. Physical therapy plays a significant role, focusing on strengthening core and hip muscles, improving flexibility, and restoring proper muscle activation patterns. If conservative measures over several weeks do not resolve the pain, surgical repair may be considered. Surgical options involve repairing torn muscles or tendons, often reattaching them to the pubic bone, and sometimes addressing associated nerve irritation.
Preventing Core Muscle Injuries
Preventing core muscle injuries involves proactive strategies:
A consistent warm-up routine before physical activity prepares muscles for exertion, increasing blood flow and flexibility.
Gradually increasing training intensity and duration allows the body to adapt to new stresses without overload.
Strengthening core and hip muscles through targeted exercises stabilizes the spine and pelvis, reducing strain during dynamic movements.
Incorporating exercises that improve overall flexibility and balance supports muscle health and reduces the risk of tears from sudden or forceful actions.