DIAGNOSING SPORTS HERNIA

A core muscle injury, also known as Sports Hernia or Athletic Pubalgia, is diagnosed with an MRI and physical exam.

Unlike a true hernia, sports hernia (medically known as athletic pubalgia) is actually an injury to the core muscle of the abdomen and legs. This injury causes chronic groin pain, especially with strenuous physical activities.

The most common symptom is pain in the groin area that does not go away with rest. Most people do not have a sentinel event, meaning a sudden injury. The injury often occurs slowly over time. The majority of patients are quite physically fit, but it can occur in anyone who injures his/her core musculature. There are several nerves that are often injured in addition to the muscles. These nerves can cause electric shock or tingling pain in the groin and genital area.

TREATING SPORTS HERNIA

Surgical repair of the core muscles is often required to treat a core muscle injury (Athletic Pubalgia). When there are injured nerves involved, they may require treatment as well. This can involve freeing the nerves from scar tissue (neurolysis) or repairing a damaged nerve (neurorrhaphy). This procedure is an outpatient surgery, followed by an immediate therapy protocol.

Our Mission Is To Improve The Quality Of Our Patients’ Lives

Our cutting-edge procedures have helped transform the lives of thousands of patients. Hear their stories and more about the procedure here: 
Glen’s Story
Glen’s Story

Glen’s Story

An active sports enthusiast all his life, Glen was taken aback by excruciating pain in the middle of coaching a soccer practice after sustaining a double hernia injury

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29 CONVENIENTLY LOCATED OFFICES ACROSS NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY, AND PENNSYLVANIA

Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury
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535 Sycamore Ave
Shrewsbury, New Jersey 07702
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Phone: 855-980-6981
Flemington
Flemington
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194 NJ-31
Pavilion 2, Suite 102
Flemington, New Jersey 08822
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Phone: 609-608-0142
Hackettstown
Hackettstown
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57 Route 46E
Suite 201
Hackettstown, New Jersey 07840
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Phone: 855-980-6981
Lehigh Valley
Lehigh Valley
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1401 Fairmont Street
Whitehall, Pennsylvania 18052
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Phone: 855-980-6981
Montclair
Montclair
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Mountainside Medical Center (Inside Harries Pavilion) 1 Bay Avenue
Suite 4
Glen Ridge, New Jersey 07028
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Phone: 855-980-6981
Phoenixville
Phoenixville
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826 Main Street
Suite 203
Phoenixville, Pennsylvania 19460
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Phone: 855-980-6981
Brick
Brick
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74 Brick Boulevard
Building 4, Suite 205
Brick, New Jersey 08723
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Phone: 855-980-6981
East Brunswick
East Brunswick
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192 Summer Hill Rd
Suite 201
East Brunswick, New Jersey 08816
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Phone: 855-980-6981
Florham Park
Florham Park
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83 Hanover Road
Suite 260
Florham Park, New Jersey 07932
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Phone: 855-980-6981
Hopewell
Hopewell
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2 Capital Way
Suite 390, 3rd Floor
Pennington, New Jersey 08534
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Phone: 855-980-6981
New York City
New York City
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635 Madison Ave
14th Floor
New York City, New York 10022
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Phone: 855-980-6981
Rockland County
Rockland County
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257 Lafayette Ave
Suite 200
Suffern, New York 10901
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Phone: 201-967-9200
Bridgewater-Greymark
Bridgewater-Greymark
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1200 US Route 22 East
Suite 19
Bridgewater, New Jersey 08807
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Phone: 855-980-6981
Edison
Edison
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102 James Street
Suite 202
Edison, New Jersey 08820
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Phone: 855-980-6981
Freehold
Freehold
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3499 Route 9 North, Building 1
Suite 1A
Freehold, New Jersey 07728
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Phone: 855-980-6981
Egg Harbor Township
Egg Harbor Township
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4096 English Creek Ave
Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey 08234
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Phone: 855-980-6981
Hackensack
Hackensack
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20 Prospect Ave
Suite 903, 9th Floor
Hackensack, New Jersey 07601
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Phone: 551-228-2208
Montgomery
Montgomery
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700 W Germantown Pike
Suite 200
East Norriton, Pennsylvania 19403
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Phone: 855-980-6981
Union
Union
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950 West Chestnut St
Suite 102
Union, New Jersey 07083
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Phone: 855-980-6981
Marlton
Marlton
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11 Eves Drive
Suite 170
Marlton, New Jersey 08053
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Phone: 908-751-1071
Gahanna
Gahanna
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1080 Beecher Crossing N
Suite A
Gahanna, Ohio 43230
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Phone: 614-686-4083
Springfield
Springfield
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100 West Main St
Springfield, Ohio 45502
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Phone: 937-521-3900
San Francisco
San Francisco
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45 Castro Street
Suite 121
San Francisco, California 94114
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Phone: 415-565-6136
New Orleans
New Orleans
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1717 St. Charles Avenue
Rear Entrance
New Orleans , Louisiana 70130
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Phone: 504-608-7499
San Antonio
San Antonio
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9635 Huebner Rd.
San Antonio, Texas 78240
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Phone: 210-692-1181
San Antonio
San Antonio
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540 Madison Oaks
Suite 600
San Antonio, Texas 78258
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Phone: 210-558-7012
Linwood
Linwood
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222 New Road
Building 6, Suite 603
Linwood, New Jersey 08221
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Phone: 855-980-6981
Maywood
Maywood
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113 W. Essex Street
Suite 204
Maywood, New Jersey 07607
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Phone: 201-289-5551
Ridgewood
Ridgewood
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1124 East Ridgewood Ave
Suite 201
Ridgewood, New Jersey 07450
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Phone: 201-289-5551
Neptune City
Neptune City
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19 Davis Avenue
7th Floor
Neptune City, New Jersey 07753
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Phone: 732-353-1973
Livingston
Livingston
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22 Old Short Hills Road
Suite 202
Livingston, New Jersey 07039
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Phone: 609-608-0142
Somerset
Somerset
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35 Clyde Road
Suite 104
Somerset, New Jersey 08873
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Phone: 609-608-0142
Paramus
Paramus
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305 Rt 17 South
Suite 3-100A
Paramus, New Jersey 07652
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Phone: 201-967-9200
Miami
Miami
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6200 Sunset Drive
Suite 402
South Miami, Florida 33143
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Phone: 786-632-5716
Los Angeles
Los Angeles
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200 Medical Plaza
Suite 460
Los Angeles, California 90095
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Phone: 213-246-4318
McKinney
McKinney
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4510 Medical Center Dr
Suite 202
McKinney, Texas 75069
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Phone: 945-224-0926
Manahawkin
Manahawkin
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517 NJ-72
Suite K
Manahawkin, New Jersey 08050
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Phone: 609-363-2944
Cape May Court House
Cape May Court House
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106 Court House South Dennis Road
Building 200, Suite 200
Cape May Court House, New Jersey 08210
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Phone: 609-363-1174
North Bergen
North Bergen
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7650 River Road
Suite 240
North Bergen, New Jersey 07047
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Phone: 201-778-9181
Westwood
Westwood
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260 Old Hook Rd
Suite 304
Westwood, New Jersey 07675
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Phone: 855-980-6981
Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale
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2320 NE 9th St
Suite 300
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33304
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Phone: 954-563-4500
Houston
Houston
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9230 Katy Fwy
#600
Houston, Texas 77055
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Phone: 713-489-5979
East Windsor
East Windsor
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300B Princeton-Hightstown Road
Suite 101
East Windsor, New Jersey 08512
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Phone: 609-448-6200
Woodlands
Woodlands
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18354 I-45
Suite 300
Shenandoah, Texas 77384
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Phone: 713-965-6344
Tinton Falls
Tinton Falls
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1 Executive Dr
Suite 4
Tinton Falls, New Jersey 07701
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Phone: 732-450-9700
Forked River
Forked River
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730 Lacey Road
Lacey Township, New Jersey 08731
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Phone: 609-212-4699
Hammonton
Hammonton
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219 N White Horse Pike
Suite 104
Hammonton, New Jersey 08037
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Phone: 609-363-2694

About
The Institute for
Advanced Reconstruction

The Institute for Advanced Reconstruction is uniquely positioned as the ‘go-to’ center for revolutionary nerve procedures, as well as world-class reconstructive treatments.

These include cutting-edge procedures such as nerve transplantation that may restore a significant degree of function for those who have suffered from stroke and other forms of paralysis. Patients who at one time believed they had exhausted their paralysis treatment options come from around the country and the globe to our practice in New York City and Shrewsbury, New Jersey.

The Institute for Advanced Reconstruction is also composed of the Axon Advance Foundation, a non-profit organization focused on new horizons in research, innovation and surgical treatments for peripheral nerve damage and spinal cord injury.

Frequently
Asked
Questions

What is the Difference Between a True Hernia and a Sports Hernia?

A true hernia involves a weakening or a hole in the layers of the abdominal wall, with little to no pain or discomfort. A hernia is repaired by the placement of mesh to repair the hole. Athletic pubalgia, or sports hernia, is a core muscle injury that results in pain and discomfort in the groin area. There is no hole or weakening in the abdominal wall layers.

What are the Core Muscles?

The abdominal muscles and adductor muscles in the legs make up the core muscles. These are the muscles that push and pull on the groin or pelvis. Injury to the abdominal (most common) and adductor (less common) muscles causes a disharmony of forces on the pelvis. This leads to chronic groin pain seen in core muscle injuries/Athletic Pubalgia.

Which Nerves can be Injured?
There are several nerves that can be injured with the muscles. The most common are the genitofemoral nerve, ilioinguinal nerve, and obturator nerve. These nerve injuries may need to be treated at the time of surgery in order to alleviate the pain associated with a core muscle injury or sports hernia.
What is the Recovery Time after Surgery?

Core muscle injury surgery is done as an outpatient procedure. This means the patient goes home the same day as the surgery. A recovery protocol is started almost immediately. Most patients are fully recovered by six weeks and are back to normal physical activity by three months.

What is the Success Rate of Surgery?
We believe success is defined by a return to pre-injury physical activity. Almost all patients are able to return to their prior activities after core muscle injury (sports hernia) surgery. Pain is relieved in most patients after surgery.
How Does this Surgery Address a Patient Who has had a Mesh Hernia Repair but Still has Pain?
Many patients have had their sports hernia, or Athletic Pubalgia, repaired with the traditional mesh hernia repair. Oftentimes mesh hernia repair will not address the pain associated with a core muscle injury. In these patients, we need to address and repair the core muscles that have been injured to relieve the pain. These patients have good results as well with our surgery, but scar tissue can make it more difficult.
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