Core muscle injury — often referred to as sports hernia — is a source of chronic groin pain in athletes.
Unlike traditional hernias, there may be no obvious bulge. Instead, weakness or tearing at the rectus-adductor aponeurosis causes pain with exertion.
Diagnosis requires careful history, imaging, and exclusion of other causes such as hip pathology.
Surgical repair, when indicated, aims to restore core stability and allow return to sport. Minimally invasive approaches can reduce recovery time while reinforcing the affected structures.
For competitive athletes, precision in diagnosis is critical to outcome.
