Patient guide · Hernia surgery

Sportsman's groin or a hernia? Getting the right diagnosis

By Mr Trif Papettas FRCS, Consultant Colorectal & General Surgeon · Reviewed August 2026

Persistent groin pain in active people is often put down to a “hernia” — but sportsman's groin is usually not a true hernia at all. Getting the diagnosis right is what leads to the right treatment.

What sportsman's groin is

Sportsman's groin — also called inguinal disruption — is chronic groin pain arising from strain of the soft tissues around the inguinal region, common in sports involving twisting, kicking and sudden changes of direction. Crucially, there is often no visible lump: it is a pain problem, not a bulge problem.

A true inguinal hernia

A true inguinal hernia involves an actual defect in the abdominal wall with a bulge that can often be felt. It may or may not be painful, and it can coexist with other causes of groin pain, which adds to the confusion.

Why it's easy to confuse the two

Both cause groin pain, so careful assessment matters. A thorough examination, often with an ultrasound or MRI scan, helps distinguish a true hernia from soft-tissue injury — and from other causes such as hip joint problems, adductor strain or bone-related pain at the pubis.

What actually helps

Sportsman's groin frequently improves with structured physiotherapy and rehabilitation first, with surgery considered only if a well-conducted rehab programme doesn't resolve it. A true, symptomatic inguinal hernia, by contrast, is treated with repair. The point is to match the treatment to the real diagnosis rather than operating on an assumption.

Common questions

Mr Trif Papettas FRCS

Consultant Colorectal & General Surgeon at Nuffield Health Warwickshire Hospital, Leamington Spa. Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, JAG dual-accredited in colonoscopy and gastroscopy, with a large personal case volume in open, keyhole and robotic-assisted hernia repair — including complex and recurrent cases.