Conservative care of sports hernias within soccer players: a case series

To detail the progress of 2 high-level soccer players and 1 recreational soccer player with chronic groin pain that was exacerbated by participation in sports and relieved by rest. The patients under went a conservative treatment plan featuring manual therapy, therapeutic modalities, and plyometric training.

The most important examination findings were palpable tenderness over the internal oblique fascia and anterior pubic tubercle, pain with resisted hip adduction, and pain with a resisted abdominal curl-up. Conventional treatment aimed at decreasing healing time of the injury through manual therapy, including soft tissue and modality techniques; rehabilitative exercises, focusing on the pelvic muscles; and plyometric training, aiming at sport specific functional improvement.

The conservative treatment approach utilized in this case series involved manual therapy, 1-2 times a week for 6-8 weeks, consisting of soft tissue, laser, microcurrent, and acupuncture; rehabilitative exercise and plyometric training, 3 times a week for 8 weeks, to help improve strength, coordination, and correct pelvic muscle imbalances. Outcome measures included visual analog scale scores and resisted muscle testing.

Three soccer players, of varying levels of ability, presenting with a suspected sports hernia (chronic groin pain exacerbated by sports and relieved by rest) were relieved of their pain after 8 weeks of conservative care featuring manual therapy, rehabilitative exercises, and plyometric training.