Sports hernia is a confusing diagnosis

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Our son plays football for a small college. During preseason practice, he developed pain in his upper left leg. Now he says it is in the groin. The school's athletic trainer took him to an orthopedic doctor, who made a diagnosis of sports hernia. According to my son, he has no bulge. We never heard of this and would like information on it. Rest is his treatment. Is there anything else? -- J.P.

ANSWER: The term "sports hernia" is misleading. It's defined as persistent groin pain without any hernia bulge. "Groin" is another troubling word. It is the crease made by the upper thigh where it joins the trunk. It does extend to the inner side of the upper thigh. It should not be used to indicate the genital region.

A sports hernia is a tear in the broad, sheetlike tendon that anchors one of the abdominal muscles to bony structures in the groin area. Often, a nerve in that area is also traumatized.

Sports hernias occur in all sports, but more often in hockey, soccer and football, where the athlete is bent slightly forward when he or she collides with another player. High-speed twisting motions also cause them.

One test for a sports hernia is a sit-up. The groin pain of a sports hernia intensifies during a sit-up.

Rest, medicines like ibuprofen and ice packs generally can heal a sports hernia. Professional athletes who cannot afford to take extended time away from their sport and their livelihood often opt for an operation. The surgeon sews the tear. He or she can also sever the traumatized nerve or deaden it in some other way. That generally takes care of pain. This procedure is also done in nonprofessional athletes who don't respond to standard measures of treatment.

Your son will experience no long-term consequences from his sports hernia.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Is it OK to use an infrared sauna once or twice a day, every day, for an hour at a time at a temperature of 125 F? Are there any health concerns that should cause one to avoid infrared saunas or use them at lower temperatures for less time? I can't find any information on their usage anywhere. -- J.L.

ANSWER: Contact the manufacturer of your sauna for the definite answers to your questions. I suppose each sauna differs slightly from another.

Infrared saunas deliver heat by generating infrared rays. The sun emits infrared rays too, but we can't see them. They're beyond the visible spectrum.

Infrared energy heats the body without heating the air in the sauna. Its energy penetrates more deeply into the body. The benefits are supposed to be due to increase blood flow to muscles and skin.

For an infrared sauna, the usual temperature range is 110 to 130 F.

As for the length of time to stay in a sauna, I cannot tell you. I just don't know. I'm sure the manufacturer can guide you. Personally, I wouldn't stay more than half an hour or an hour at most. The potential danger would come from dehydration, and you would know that it is occurring by feeling weak and dizzy.

People with heart disease or uncontrolled high blood pressure or on treatment with a water pill should consult with their doctor before using any kind of sauna.

Dr. Donohue regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but he will incorporate them in his column whenever possible. Readers may write him or request an order form of available health newsletters at P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. Readers may also order health newsletters from www.rbmamall.com. 2006 North America Syndicate Inc. All Rights Reserved