How Your New Year’s Fitness Resolution Can Result in a Sports Hernia

Every January, gyms across New York City fill with people determined to make good on their New Year’s resolutions — getting stronger, losing weight, and building healthier habits. While these goals are worth pursuing, one common but often overlooked risk for those jumping into a new workout routine is a sports hernia, also known as athletic pubalgia.

This painful soft-tissue injury occurs in the lower abdomen or groin and can sideline even the most motivated athletes and fitness enthusiasts. At Core Surgical, our board-certified surgeons in NYC specialize in diagnosing and treating sports hernias with advanced, minimally invasive techniques designed to get you back to your active lifestyle safely and quickly.

What Is a Sports Hernia?

Despite its name, a sports hernia isn’t a true hernia — there’s no visible bulge or tear of tissue through the abdominal wall. Instead, it’s a strain or tear of the soft tissue (muscles, tendons, or ligaments) in the lower abdomen or groin area, most often where the abdominal muscles attach to the pubic bone.

This injury is particularly common among athletes who engage in sports or activities involving sudden changes of direction, twisting, or explosive movements — such as soccer, hockey, running, CrossFit, or weightlifting.

When someone who hasn’t trained regularly begins an intense new exercise regimen — especially around the New Year — the sudden increase in activity can overwhelm underconditioned core muscles, leading to microtears and inflammation.

Causes and Risk Factors

A sports hernia can develop from a combination of factors, including:

• Overexertion from new or high-intensity workouts
• Repetitive twisting and turning of the torso during exercises or sports
• Poor core stability or weak abdominal muscles
• Imbalance between hip and thigh muscles, which creates uneven stress on the pelvis
• Improper warm-up or stretching routines

According to the American Journal of Sports Medicine, sports hernias account for nearly 5% of all athletic injuries, and they are increasingly seen in recreational athletes — especially those starting aggressive workout programs too quickly.

At Core Surgical, we frequently see New Yorkers who develop athletic pubalgia after ramping up gym routines, training for marathons, or taking on high-intensity interval workouts like OrangeTheory or F45.

Common Symptoms of a Sports Hernia

Sports hernias can be tricky to diagnose because the pain often mimics other conditions like hip flexor strains or groin pulls. The hallmark symptom is chronic pain in the lower abdomen or groin that worsens with activity and improves with rest.

Other common symptoms include:

• Sharp, aching, or burning pain in the lower abdomen or groin
• Pain during twisting, sprinting, or sit-ups
• Pain that radiates into the inner thigh or testicles
• Tenderness near the pubic bone
• Weakness or instability when moving

Without proper treatment, the injury may worsen, making it painful to perform even simple movements.

Diagnosis and Treatment Options

Because sports hernias can resemble other injuries, accurate diagnosis is key. At Core Surgical, our NYC specialists perform a detailed physical exam and may order imaging such as an MRI or ultrasound to confirm the diagnosis and rule out other causes of groin pain.

Treatment often starts with conservative management, including:

• Rest and activity modification
• Anti-inflammatory medications
• Physical therapy to strengthen core and pelvic muscles
• Stretching and stabilization exercises

For patients who don’t respond to non-surgical treatment after 6–8 weeks, a minimally invasive surgical repair may be recommended. Our surgeons at Core Surgical specialize in laparoscopic and robotic-assisted sports hernia repair, which allows for smaller incisions, less pain, and faster recovery compared to traditional open surgery.

Most patients can return to light activity within a few weeks and resume full sports participation within 6–8 weeks after surgery, depending on their individual recovery.

Get Back to Your Fitness Goals — Safely

If you’re feeling groin or lower abdominal pain after increasing your workouts this year, don’t ignore it. The sooner a sports hernia is diagnosed, the easier it is to treat and the faster you can return to your routine.

Contact Core Surgical in New York City today to schedule your evaluation and learn more about advanced, minimally invasive options for sports hernia repair. Let us help you start the new year strong — and pain-free.