Yes, you can develop a sports hernia from running, although the injury is more often linked to sports with sprinting, sudden changes of direction, and twisting. Repetitive running may strain the lower abdominal or groin tissues, especially when you increase distance or intensity too quickly.
Learn how a sports hernia differs from other groin injuries, which symptoms need attention, and how to approach diagnosis and recovery. Because several conditions can cause similar pain, a clinician’s assessment is more useful than trying to diagnose the injury by symptoms alone.
Can you get a sports hernia from running?
Yes. Running can contribute to a sports hernia, also called athletic pubalgia, a painful injury involving soft tissues in the lower abdomen or groin. The term “sports hernia” is misleading: it usually does not mean that an organ is pushing through a hole in the abdominal wall.
The repeated force of running can irritate or overload tissues where the abdominal muscles and thigh muscles meet near the pelvis. Fast intervals, hill sprints, sudden mileage increases, and running while fatigued can raise the load on that area. A single awkward movement may also trigger symptoms.
Steady distance running is not the only possible cause, and pain after a run does not automatically mean you have this injury. A groin strain, hip problem, or a true inguinal hernia can feel similar, so an exam matters.
What does a sports hernia feel like?
Sports hernia symptoms often begin as pain in the lower abdomen, groin, or area where the upper thigh meets the pelvis. The pain may start during exercise, worsen afterward, or ease with rest and return when you run again.
Common signs include:
- Deep, one-sided groin or lower-abdominal pain.
- Pain that increases with sprinting, kicking, twisting, or changing direction.
- Discomfort during sit-ups, resisted abdominal movements, or forceful coughing.
- Tenderness around the pubic area or where the thigh muscles attach.
- Pain that improves during rest but returns when activity resumes.
A visible bulge is usually not present with athletic pubalgia. That is one reason “sports hernia” can cause confusion. A bulge may point toward a different problem, such as a true inguinal hernia, and should be checked by a medical professional.
How a sports hernia differs from other running injuries
Several injuries can cause groin pain, and their treatment can differ. The comparison below can help you describe your symptoms, but it cannot confirm a diagnosis.
| Possible cause | Common clues | Best next step |
|---|---|---|
| Sports hernia (athletic pubalgia) | Lower-abdominal or deep groin pain linked to exertion; usually no bulge. | Arrange an assessment if it persists or returns with running. |
| Adductor strain | Pain along the inner thigh, often tender when squeezing the legs together. | Reduce painful activity and seek care if pain is severe or not improving. |
| Inguinal hernia | A bulge or pressure in the groin that may become more noticeable with straining. | Have a clinician examine it; urgent care is needed for a painful, stuck bulge. |
| Hip-related problem | Pain or stiffness near the hip, sometimes worse with deep bending or rotation. | Get assessed if motion is limited or symptoms keep returning. |
| Bone stress injury | Gradually worsening pain with impact or weight-bearing, sometimes even at rest. | Stop running and seek prompt medical advice. |
Other causes, including nerve irritation and problems inside the hip joint, may also be considered. A clinician can use your symptom history and physical exam to decide whether imaging or another test is appropriate.
How doctors diagnose athletic pubalgia
There is no single home test that reliably identifies a sports hernia. A health professional will ask when the pain began, which movements bring it on, and whether rest changes it. They may examine your abdomen, groin, hip, and thigh muscles.
Imaging is sometimes used to check for a soft-tissue injury or rule out another cause. An MRI may help when the diagnosis is unclear or symptoms continue, but scan results need to be interpreted alongside your symptoms and exam. A scan alone does not always explain groin pain.
Be ready to describe your recent training changes, including mileage, pace, hills, strength work, and rest days. Mention pain with coughing, lifting, or daily activities, and whether you have noticed a bulge. These details can help distinguish athletic pubalgia from other conditions.
What to do if running causes groin pain
- Stop or modify the painful run. Do not push through sharp or increasing groin pain. Continuing to load an injured area can aggravate symptoms and make it harder to judge your recovery.
- Arrange an assessment. See a physician or qualified sports-medicine professional if pain is significant, keeps returning, affects daily activity, or does not improve after reducing your training.
- Keep activity within a comfortable range. Walking or other low-impact exercise may be reasonable if it does not worsen pain during the activity or afterward. If even easy movement hurts, rest and get advice.
- Follow a progressive rehabilitation plan. A physical therapist may guide a gradual return to core, hip, and adductor strengthening. The right starting point depends on the diagnosis and your symptoms.
- Return to running in stages. Begin with easy, short sessions only when everyday movement and rehabilitation exercises are comfortable. Increase one element at a time, such as duration before speed, and step back if pain returns.
A useful practical tool is a brief training and symptom log. Record the run, pace, pain during exercise, and how the area feels later that day and the next morning. This can reveal patterns that a single “test run” may miss.
How sports hernia treatment and recovery usually work
Initial treatment often involves reducing activities that trigger pain and gradually restoring strength and movement. A physical therapist may work on the abdominal wall, hip muscles, and adductors—the muscles along the inner thigh. The goal is to build capacity without repeatedly provoking the injury.
Recovery is not governed by one standard timeline. It depends on the specific tissue involved, symptom severity, other health factors, and how the injury responds to rehabilitation. A return-to-running plan should use function and symptoms, not a fixed number of days.
Some people with ongoing symptoms may be referred to a specialist to discuss further options, which can include surgery. That decision depends on the diagnosis and response to non-surgical care. Surgery is not the automatic next step for every person with suspected athletic pubalgia.
Do not rely on pain relief alone to decide that you are ready to run. Medication or ice may temporarily reduce discomfort, but they do not show whether the injured tissue can handle speed, distance, or hills. Ask a clinician how to manage pain safely and when to progress your training.
When groin pain needs urgent medical care
Seek urgent care if you have a new groin bulge that becomes very painful, firm, or difficult to push back, especially with nausea or vomiting. These symptoms can indicate a complication of a true hernia.
Get prompt medical attention for sudden severe pain, inability to bear weight, rapidly worsening symptoms, fever, or severe testicular pain. These problems can have causes that need treatment beyond sports-injury rehabilitation.
For less urgent pain, arrange a medical assessment if symptoms keep returning, worsen despite reduced activity, or interfere with walking and daily tasks. A sports hernia is only one possible explanation, and an accurate diagnosis guides safer treatment.
Yes, you can get a sports hernia from running, but the name usually describes a soft-tissue injury rather than a visible hernia. Lower-abdominal or groin pain can also come from several other conditions, so a bulge-free groin does not confirm the diagnosis.
Your next step is to pause painful running and arrange an assessment if symptoms persist, recur, or affect daily life. Keep a short log of your symptoms and training, then use professional guidance to plan a gradual return.