Sports Hernia: What's the Deal?

by foos05 on Mar 20, 2009 10:20 AM EDT in News Comment 25 comments

I was reading part two of Spadaro's interview with Andy Reid on PE.com this morning. Just like part one, it was some pretty vanilla stuff covering issues that we already know existed. Of course, a question about the quality of our wide receivers popped up. Andy gave a very general answer, as always, and that's fine. The one aspect of his answer that stood out to me was the way he addressed Jason Avant. He seems to be very high on young Jason, and I can understand why. However, the part that stood out was the mention of Avant having sports hernia last year. This hit me a little bit, as I was unaware of it.

We should all know what sports hernia is at this point, but if you don't, it's a situation that occurs in the lower abdomen. The muscles or tendons in the lower wall weaken and allow a pouch to form. As we should all know by now, the treatement for this is surgery. Depending on the severity, surgery can be a simple snip and sew situation, or in McNabb's and Curtis' case, meshing is inserted to strengthen the area.

The recovery period from this type of injury is about six to eight weeks, but in all honesty, full recovery can take almost twice as long. To be honest, I don't think I ever heard of this type of injury until McNabb, and now it seems like we see atleast one player every year on the Eagles wtih it, but I don't see the same trend around the NFL. Since 2005, McNabb, LJ Smith, Curtis, and now Avant have had this surgery. Seems odd that there's such a large concentration here and not everywhere else.

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I know that Andy Reid does not focus on conditioning

Shawn Barber made a stink when he was in Kansas City how the Eagles do not work on conditioning. He beleived the Eagles would be winding in the forth quarter.

The reason I mention this is because andy leaves conditioning to the trainors and the players and does not work with them at all. Its possible that they are working extra hard to make up for lack of conditioning in practice. Most sports hernias are a result of working out too hard.

Hey Jason, maybe next year you come our with a Fantasy team named “The pulled groins”. Just playing, doing so may cause an epidemic.

City of Champions!

by yophillybro on Mar 20, 2009 10:28 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

But...

Does the fact that the Eagles are seemingly always more fresh and playing best at the end of the season mean they must be doing something right conditioning wise?

Bleeding Green Nation - Philadelphia Eagles Blog

by JasonB on Mar 20, 2009 11:49 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree, maybe the players are trying too hard to catch up though.

Maybe Andy needs to peep in to see that they don’t over do it. But I am sure Rick Burkholder is all over that.

City of Champions!

by yophillybro on Mar 20, 2009 11:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

sports hernia surgery is a

well i wont finish that sentence but you get my point.

the worst part is you really cant even walk either. when i had mine i walked bow-legged for a few weeks

by NickPampani on Mar 20, 2009 10:29 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

foos

it looks like you really found the exact moment he got the injury

by NickPampani on Mar 20, 2009 10:35 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Interesting

I hadn’t heard about Avant having a sports hernia either. Could Barber be onto something? Yophillybro you make a very interesting point, my only question is do you think LJ was a workhorse in practicing on his own?

"Lets get one thing straight, the only reason you are conscious right now is because I don't feel like carrying you." - Jack Bauer

"Consequences, Schmonsequences, as long as I'm rich." - Daffy Duck

by Badd on Mar 20, 2009 10:40 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

He was a physical specimen though

That dude was cut though. McNabb hurt his lifting too hard in the off season.

City of Champions!

by yophillybro on Mar 20, 2009 11:10 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

physical specimen=waste of talent

by pooch900 on Mar 20, 2009 12:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

he wasn't Bunkley

Man, from you avitar. I think hes gonna eat me.

City of Champions!

by yophillybro on Mar 20, 2009 12:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Bunkley in that pic looks like the black incredible hulk

by pooch900 on Mar 20, 2009 1:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This sounds like a problem with the trainers not stretching enough or doing enough strengthening exercises for the weak muscle groups in question.

The rash of hamstring injuries the Yankees had last year were probably completely the pitcher trainer’s fault in lack of stretching.

If you see a rash of back surgery problems in the NFL, you probably have a trainer who focuses too much on power clean type lifts as well. The training staff goals and philosophy on which exercises are most useful vary greatly from organization to organization.
In this particular instance, I’d wager it’s a combination of lack of stretches and conditioning, and not overwork.

by JGCarraway on Mar 20, 2009 11:16 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

meant to say

There’s also the possibility that it’s something in their training program that puts more stress than needed.

by JGCarraway on Mar 20, 2009 11:17 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

sports hernia

I play soccer and got a sports hernia half way through the season and played through it. Won’t require surgery until it gets bad enough… probably next season. They say the complications of surgery outweigh the risk of playing with it until you can’t tolerate it anymore…I can’t imagine what it would be like to play with one playing football. I would have to take an ice bath after every training session and game.

Anyways I don’t think it is an issue of them “working out to hard” but it is from people’s abdominal wall being too thin. I was not lifting at all when mine occured.

by TheEaglesEye on Mar 20, 2009 11:17 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

It is the playing of the sport itself that causes it. It happens most often in soccer, football, and hockey. It is from all the short burst and change in direction.

by TheEaglesEye on Mar 20, 2009 11:20 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

So you’re saying Reno Mahe will never have a sports hernia?

I am the people's troll :3™

by yomjoseki on Mar 20, 2009 11:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

oh man… i almost choked on a dorito when i read that

"I tried to run him over but Eli had his big boy pads on and he kind of stopped me from getting in the end zone. The next time I’ll try to jump over his head.’’ - Asante Samuel

by foos05 on Mar 20, 2009 12:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This is a little more fun if you read it in a Jerry Seinfeld voice. “What is the deal with sports hernias? All of a sudden, everybody’s abdominal wall is too thin!”

I wonder if I can bill Jeff Lurie and Peter Angelos for the years of therapy their teams are going to put me through.

by BrianS on Mar 20, 2009 1:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

+ 1020321489732

If football had a church, Brian Dawkins would be my preacher !

by NorthPhillyKid on Mar 20, 2009 8:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

At least it's not Staph!

Hey, at least we’re not in Cleveland, right?

But on a more serious note, I wonder if more players around the league have these, but just aren’t aware of them, and think they are just playing through pain.

One of the three nationwide specialists on Sports Hernias is in Philadelphia: Dr. William Meyers at Hahnemann Hospital.

by afksports on Mar 20, 2009 3:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

One of the three nationwide specialists on Sports Hernias is in Philadelphia: Dr. William Meyers at Hahnemann Hospital.

That’s just good business sense on his part to be in Philly.

"I tried to run him over but Eli had his big boy pads on and he kind of stopped me from getting in the end zone. The next time I’ll try to jump over his head.’’ - Asante Samuel

by foos05 on Mar 20, 2009 3:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i think it's a conspiracy

ol’ doc bill is probably rigging the weights to read less then they are in order to increase his income. MOVE TO DALLAS, DR. MEYERS!!!

by #1EaglesFan on Mar 20, 2009 4:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wasn’t Avant’s injury in 06 or 07? I am pretty sure that ony Curtis had a sports hernia last year.

by The Legend on Mar 20, 2009 3:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

in this case, “last year” means 07… Andy used “last year” in the original piece and I wanted to be consistent

"I tried to run him over but Eli had his big boy pads on and he kind of stopped me from getting in the end zone. The next time I’ll try to jump over his head.’’ - Asante Samuel

by foos05 on Mar 20, 2009 3:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs