Guess the pathology: an egg-sized lump in the groin. In this episode of “I Have a Client Who …” a massage therapist describes a client who comes in asking for groin work—to help with a “knot.”
What on earth is going on?
It turns out to be simple, but way, way outside our scope of practice—to label, or to treat.
Inguinal hernias are common injuries in men, because the passage of the spermatic cord into the abdomen creates a structural weak spot at the inguinal ring. When that spot gets stressed and stretched, loops of the small intestine can bulge through. This can be a minor issue, or it can become serious very quickly—and the only permanent solution is surgery.
This episode is sponsored by:
Anatomy Trains
Host:
Ruth Werner
ABMP Pocket Pathology: “Hernia”
The ABMP Podcast | Speaking With the Massage & Bodywork Profession