Keywords
Health Care Competency, Disablement Model Case Study
Abstract
A 24-year-old female collegiate beach volleyball athlete experienced sharp pain in the pubis symphysis region after turning and running to reach a ball hit over her right shoulder. The patient was unable to move her lower extremities without extreme pain and required help off the court. She was referred to the student health center, where no initial imaging was performed. Differential diagnoses included osteitis pubis, abdominal strain, and athletic pubalgia. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a small partial sports hernia with the shearing of the aponeurotic plate. The team physician recommended conservative management. The patient requested a consultation with a specialist in Pennsylvania. The specialist reviewed the MRI with the patient via telehealth. The specialists stated they did not believe the tear would progress, and conservative management would be an excellent option for the season. The surgical protocol from the institution was adjusted for conservative return-to-play for this athlete. Initially, the patient was on bed rest and removed entirely from her daily responsibilities. The patient returned to sport one-month post-injury, following an individualized conservative rehabilitation return-to-play. Although surgical intervention is the primary treatment approach for athletic pubalgia, conservative management was ultimately the treatment solution for this patient. While working with athletes, athletic trainers need to take into consideration the athlete’s desires and goals. Further research should be done to develop conservative return-to-sport protocols. Additionally, current research is primarily male-focused, so research that includes more diverse populations should also be conducted.
Recommended Citation
Hendrick, Sydney F.; Fraley, Amy L.; Kefferstan, Madison V.; and Winkelmann, Zachary K.
(2025)
"Conservative Management of Athletic Pubalgia in a Collegiate Beach Volleyball Athlete: A Case Study,"
Clinical Practice in Athletic Training: Vol. 8:
Iss.
2, Article 1.
Available at:
https://scholars.indianastate.edu/clinat/vol8/iss2/1
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