Sports Hernia Resources

California Dreaming?

Published August 2, 2017 By William Brown, MD

Why It’s Worth the Trip to California to Fix Your Sports Hernia

If you have been diagnosed with a sports hernia, your next step should be finding the best surgeon to fix your injury. There are many nerves, blood vessels, tendons, ligaments, and muscles, it is important to choose a specialist who knows exactly what they’re doing.

One of the best sports hernia specialists in the world practices in Fremont, California, south and east of San Francisco. Dr. William Brown has been focusing on sports hernias for nearly 20 years and has earned a reputation with athletes for his repair technique and recovery protocol. Dr. Brown is the surgeon for the San Jose Sharks, the San Jose Earthquakes, and most of the local college teams. And he has cared for athletes from the NFL, AFL, NBA, NBL and the United States Soccer League.

Besides the peace of mind of getting…

Doctor to Doctor – Sports Hernia Diagnosis

Published October 30, 2016 By William Brown, MD

Dr. Brown’s Approach to a Sports Hernia Diagnosis

Now that you have a patient in the office, what do you do? Be sure to allot sufficient time with the patient, get a good history, and carefully examine the athlete. Often, you will determine the diagnosis without the need for MRI or ultrasound. The correct diagnosis leads to appropriate treatment.

From the patient’s history determine the site of the pain and work from there.

For the athlete who complains of pain near the symphysis pubis (in the middle of the pubic hair above the base of the penis); osteitis pubis is the most likely etiology. This patient is often a distance runner. Many patients report that rolling over in bed is painful. With rest the pain improves. The pain is usually insidious in onset. On physical examination there is usually pain with direct pressure over the symphysis pubis and the edges…

Questions About Sports Hernias?

Published June 20, 2016 By William Brown, MD

There are No “Stupid Questions”

sports hernia questions Sports hernias are some of the most common injuries suffered by athletes, but some of the least understood by physicians. In all sports, injury prevention is key, and avoiding sports hernias is no exception. But how can athletes work toward preventing sports hernias while knowing so little about the injury itself?

Sports hernia injuries are complicated. They’re painful, they’re difficult to describe, and they don’t go away, no matter how much you ice that area. Recovery is often a long, frustrating path. Even the first step, finding a doctor with the right expertise to diagnose a sports hernia, can be more difficult than expected. But the first step is the most important, as it’s the right doctor who can get you back to your prime.

Ask questions and gather accurate information. An experienced sports hernia specialist like Dr. Brown is a terrific source.…

Understanding Groin Pain

Published June 6, 2016 By William Brown, MD

What is the Cause of Groin Pain?

The most common cause of groin pain is an injury to the adductor longus tendon, for two reasons. First, the adductor longus has the greater angle of attachment than other hip adductors. So with abduction of the hip, the adductor longus is the first of the hip adductors to feel the strain. Second, the adductor longus has a very narrow attachment to the bone when compared to the other hip adductors.

This injury is most commonly experienced by athletes involved in sports that have rapid changes in direction, such as soccer and hockey. The pain will be high on the inside of the thigh and get worse with adduction of the hip against resistance. Jogging or running in a straight line usually does not cause pain. Often, the pain will get better with rest.

On physical…

Glossary of Sports Hernia Terms: Part 2

Published April 29, 2016 By William Brown, MD

With sports hernias so often misdiagnosed and the injury often misunderstood by athletes and physicians alike, it’s helpful having a glossary of sports hernia-related terminology for easy reference.

Fully understanding the underlying issues surrounding sports hernias can help end chronic pain for the athlete and result in a quicker, accurate diagnosis and treatment. Any athlete who suffers chronic groin pain that is aggravated by sports and subsides with rest should be strongly considered to have a sports hernia.

Adductor release: Adductor release involves moving the adductor tendon from its bony attachment to the pubic bone and reattachment to the adductor brevis muscle. This moves the tendon only a few centimeters, but allows the tendon to heal quickly. It has the added benefit of decreasing the stress on the symphysis pubis and thereby decreasing the pain associated with osteitis pubis. Athletes do not have any loss of strength and…

Professional Athletes Trust One Sports Hernia Specialist

Published June 17, 2015 By William Brown, MD

Maybe You Should Trust a Sports Hernia Specialist, Too

sports-hernia-specialist-doctor Is that persistent headache a sign of stress, or a sign of serious illness? Perhaps a concussion? Or Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever? If you have a symptom, you can bet that there’s a corresponding diagnosis somewhere on the Web.

With all of the online resources available to us today, it can be tempting to run to the Internet at the first sign of injury. However, it’s crucial that we trust our health to medical professionals that have experience, not to a Web diagnosis. The Internet is full of accurate and helpful guidance, but nothing compares to a real diagnosis. After all, an injury affects your health and even your future. It’s far too important to leave to chance or possible misinformation.

This is especially critical when it comes to sports hernias. These complicated injuries occur when there is a muscle that…