I think you got it Stan.  Sounds like a groin pull.  Were it a hernia, I would expect a bulging with a cough (or any increased intraabdominal pressure).  Get it properly evaluated by a doc, of course, but rest & NSAIDs ought to do it.  Easier said than done, I know.

Stanley wrote: Does this sound like a sports hernia, or a pulled abductor? Any recommendations for rehab would be much appreciated. I am going to schedule a wellness visit with my doctor for recommendations, but I really don't want to go the surgery route unless it is absolutely necessary. To characterize the pain, it is like being stabbed in the right side of my groin. A day after the games I only feel pain when I put force on my right leg towards the inside of my thigh, or force my right leg towards the left. It definitely feels like an abductor muscle, but I do have some slight lower ab pain when I get out of a seated or lying position. I am a bit puzzled about why the hammer action seems to aggravate the injury the most.

It sounds like ADDuctor, not abductor (not practicing medicine, but does not sound like a hernia).  Adductors move thigh toward midline of body, abductors move it away from midline.  One reason that the hammer seems to bother it is because the lateral action of your hips with fixed feet.  Do you use blades?  Also, some weakness in your obliques might be contributing also as both internal and external obliques attach on the inguinal ligament right at the area you're describing.  All those parts of your torso and thighs are contributing to the hammer rotation much more so than with WFD or stones because of fixed feet.

Some isomentric ball squeezes--volleyball, basketball, etc--start with 5-count hold x 10-15 reps working up to 10-count hold.  Also, you might try standing leg adduction: with a tube or band looped around right knee attached to the upright of a rack on your right, pull the band toward the midline of your body and hold for 5-count.  Pay attention to what is also happening at your torso, so don't just swing back and forth.  Be sure to do both legs to get equal coverage.

Try those out to see how they work for you.

Teresa Merrick, Ph.D./Bellevue,  NE

Stan,

You're describing much of what I went through all last season. I popped mine on WFD. I found it a very frustrating injury to heal. I suspect mine was either a bad pull or tear. I injured it in late May, competed through September, probably reinjuring it, and started wieight training in December. I've only been pretty much healed since mid June. I found rest about the best thing to do early on, then to build and strengthen it, I got the most out of back squats, thigh squeezes (not sure what else to call them, done on a machine in the gym), and trunk twists on the cable pull machine. I also wrapped my upper thigh with my knee wrap to train, as that's the only thing that would give me enough support. Good luck with it.

Stan,

I am certainly not a doctor, but I concur, sounds like an adductor.  I have torn mine.  I am pretty sure most throwers in the games have had at least adductor stress at some point.  My advice to you is when you do recover, spend more time doing throwing drills, start very slow and easy and progress the speed and weight load over time.  Don't take so many practice throws, you don't need them.  I.E. in the hammer, do winds slow and in perfect arc planes for sets of ten.  Maybe 5 -7 sets.  Maybe take three throws after that if your mind won't let you believe that you don't need all that work.  With WFD, try sets of repeat spins with perfect pivots.  If you can get 7-10 spins in a row without falling down, then you will be able to crank throu two in a games.  My only other thought about recovery wqould be to look into PNF stretching. 

Stanley wrote: I had thought I would try doing something like ball squeezes (actually I thought of that evil looking contraption in the gym with the pads on the inside of the thighs) and light hammer winds just because that seems to be the weak link. Thank you all for your advice. Yesterday I was really concerned. I have always been pretty healthy. I have competed in 10 to 15 power lifting events and never been injured (other than some minor rotator cuff tears). The HGs are definitely more taxing on the body, but infinitely more fun. I am hooked. I enjoy practicing almost as much as competing. I can't say that about power lifting. I now think of the gym as a means to an end. Not the end.  Stan

It's easier to just have people call the machine the "hip in" machine--pads on inside, you pull in.  Its opposite--"hip out"--pads on outside, you push out.  Wouldn't hurt to do both of them with a controlled 5-count lowering.  However, the same two exercises done in a standing position would be closer to the biomechanical actions needed.  Also be sure to strengthen your left side--torso, inner/outer hip.  It's very easy for a right-handed thrower to allow the left side of body to ride along instead of contributing to the effort.  Ends up overstraining the right side.

I enjoy HG more than PL too, but I wouldn't necessarily say they are more taxing to the body than PL.  Certainly more technical and needing more precision.  The movement and speed components create a smaller window of error.  Practice to groove the right patterns; I need to get better at incorporating drills into my gym workouts instead of only during my practice sessions.

JMHO

Teresa Merrick, Ph.D./Bellevue, NE