FOR PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES
Groin injury management
At BioHernia, we’ve dedicated ourselves to developing and providing specialised, mesh-free groin hernia treatments that address the unique needs of athletes — and facilitate a swift and safe return to the demanding world of professional sports.
Trusted by footballers from top European teams
BioHernia combines our expertise in mesh-free hernia surgery with specialised rehabilitation from Europe’s top sports medical centers. Our partnership ensures a seamless recovery, helping athletes return to peak performance quickly, safely, and confidently.
7 days
Athletes can resume training 7 days, after the operation
14-28 days
With our Minimal repair technique, a return-to-sport can be achieved within 2 to 4 weeks.
98,8%
Is the percentage of athletes that return to sports after 28 days.
Understanding the Sportsman's groin
The condition involves chronic, exercise-related pain in the groin area and is common among elite athletes due to the high physical demands of their sports. It stems from irritation of the genital branch of the genitofemoral nerve, often caused by a weakness in the groin. This irritation results in persistent pain without a true hernia, yet the symptoms are often mistaken for an inguinal hernia and treated as such—despite requiring a different approach.
Symptoms
- Burning, stabbing pain radiating to the inner thigh, testis, and scrotum
- Pain extending to the back
- Increased pain with physical activity and specific movements
- Possible osteitis pubis (pain in the pubic bone)
The path to recovery and peak performance
1.
2.
3.
Our Minimal Repair technique explained
Developed by our expert, Dr. Ulrike Muschaweck, the Minimal Repair technique stands at the forefront of our offerings. Tailored to combat chronic groin pain — commonly known as sportsman’s groin or athletic pubalgia — this procedure is our answer to the specialised demands of elite athletes’ bodies.
1. Targeted incision
A small, precise incision is made in the groin area to access the weakened area.
2. Identifying the weak spot
Our surgeon carefully identifies and isolates the area of weakness in the groin, without manipulating or repositioning other tissues.
3. Tissue repair
The weakened area is reinforced using stitches to relieve pressure on compressed nerves in the groin. This restores stability and alleviates pain without the need for synthetic mesh.
4. Closing up
The incision is closed with absorbable sutures that dissolve naturally, supporting a smooth healing process with minimal scarring and allowing athletes to recover faster.
1. Targeted incision
A small, precise incision is made in the groin area to access the weakened area.
2. Identifying the weak spot
Our surgeon carefully identifies and isolates the area of weakness in the groin, without manipulating or repositioning other tissues.
3. Tissue repair
The weakened area is reinforced using stitches to relieve pressure on compressed nerves in the groin. This restores stability and alleviates pain without the need for synthetic mesh.
4. Closing up
The incision is closed with absorbable sutures that dissolve naturally, supporting a smooth healing process with minimal scarring and allowing athletes to recover faster.
7 days
14-28 days
98,8%
The benefits of our Minimal Repair technique
At BioHernia, we understand the unique needs of elite athletes. Our skilled surgeons and physiotherapists work seamlessly together, to ensure top athletes receive exceptional care, helping them return to their best quickly and safely.
Developed for peak performance
We focus on preserving your abdomen’s natural flexibility and function, using your own tissue for repair to ensure optimal performance and minimise risks tied to synthetic implants.
Avoid mesh-related complications
Say goodbye to complications from mesh repairs. Our approach leverages your body’s natural strength, supporting a smooth recovery that keeps you at the top of your game.
Experienced team
Our expert team of surgeons, anesthetists, and nurses—preferred by elite athletes—deliver world-class, non-mesh hernia solutions with precision and care.
Customised recovery for champions
From your initial consultation to post-surgery rehab, we craft personalised treatment plans that align with your athletic demands, ensuring you’re back to performing at your best.
Designed for peak performance
We focus on preserving your core’s natural flexibility and function, using your own tissue for repair to ensure optimal performance and minimise risks tied to synthetic implants.
Avoid mesh-related complications
Say goodbye to complications from mesh repairs. Our approach leverages your body’s natural strength, supporting a smooth recovery that keeps you at the top of your game.
Experienced team
Our expert team of surgeons, anesthetists, and nurses—preferred by elite athletes—deliver world-class, non-mesh hernia solutions with precision and care.
Customised recovery for champions
From your initial consultation to post-surgery rehab, we craft personalised treatment plans that align with your athletic demands, ensuring you’re back to performing at your best.
Why hernia surgery with mesh falls short for elite athletes
A sportsman’s groin is often mistaken for an inguinal hernia, but it’s a different condition requiring a specialised approach. For elite athletes, intense physical demands can make mesh repairs problematic, causing discomfort, restricted flexibility, and an increased risk of re-injury or chronic pain. Athletes need a durable, flexible solution tailored to their anatomy to avoid complications such as:
Rejection of mesh
Mesh movement
Mesh shrinkage
Mesh stiffness and tissue attachment
Nerve irritation
Allergic reactions to mesh coatings
Our expert surgeons
Our elite team of surgeons is dedicated to providing top-tier, personalised care for your athletes. With extensive experience in mesh-free hernia repair, they combine skill, precision, and compassion to ensure the best outcomes.
Dr. Ulrike Muschaweck
Dr. Ulrike Muschaweck is one of the world’s most renowned and experienced hernia surgeons, celebrated for her expertise in treating athletes and her innovative approach to hernia repair. With years of experience, she developed the groundbreaking Minimal Repair technique, a specialised procedure designed to treat Sportsman’s Groin (athletic pubalgia) with precision and minimal disruption. Her unmatched skill and dedication have made her the trusted choice for countless professional athletes at the highest levels, helping them recover quickly and return to peak performance.
Dr. Andreas Koch
Dr. Andreas Koch is a highly experienced hernia surgeon with a distinct passion for treating elite athletes. With a strong background in both surgical excellence and sports medicine, he has dedicated years to helping athletes recover and perform at their best. Dr. Koch is deeply engaged in scientific research, having co-authored numerous papers on hernia surgery, including a collaboration with Dr. Muschaweck on the Minimal Repair technique. Beyond his expertise in surgery, Dr. Koch has extensive experience managing a wide range of athletic injuries as the team doctor for his local professional football club, Energie Cottbus.
The science behind our approach
Below we delve into the science behind this method, exploring how it preserves the body’s natural function and flexibility, minimises recovery time, and enhances performance for elite athletes.
Minimal Repair technique study
Dr. Muschaweck conducted a study on the Minimal Repair technique to evaluate its effectiveness in treating sportsman’s groin in elite athletes. The study aimed to assess the time to pain relief and the resumption of full athletic activity post-surgery. The results showed that 98.8% of athletes resumed training within 7 days and 83.7% returned to peak performance within 14 days, with 79.1% experiencing complete pain relief. This technique, developed by Dr. Muschaweck, avoids synthetic meshes, preserving the natural flexibility and function of the abdominal wall, ensuring a swift and safe return to sports.
Resumption of sport within 28 days (%)
Athletes
Non-athletes
Time to resumption of sport (days)
Athletes
Non-athletes
More findings in the study
Time to full return to sport (days)
Athletes
Non-athletes
Full return to sport within 28 days (%)
Athletes
Non-athletes
Complete relief of pain within 28 days (%)
Athletes
Non-athletes
Time to complete pain relief (days)
Athletes
Non-athletes
Pain scale (0-10), 4 weeks after Minimal Repair
Athletes
Non-athletes
Why this matters
Dr. Muschaweck’s Minimal Repair technique is a game-changer for elite athletes suffering from sportsman’s groin. This innovative approach avoids synthetic meshes, preserving the natural flexibility and function of the abdominal wall, crucial for high-performance sports. The study showed that 98.8% of athletes resumed training within just 7 days, and 83.7% returned to peak performance within 14 days, with 79.1% experiencing complete pain relief. This means a faster, safer recovery, allowing athletes to quickly and confidently get back to their sport without compromising their long-term health.
Muschaweck U, Berger L. Minimal Repair technique of sportsmen’s groin: an innovative open-suture repair to treat chronic inguinal pain. Hernia. 2010 Feb;14(1):27-33. ↗
Subsequent study with Dr. Andreas Koch
Dr. Ulrike Muschaweck and Dr. Andreas Koch conducted a study on the Minimal Repair technique, specifically aimed at treating sportsman’s groin in elite athletes. The study’s objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of this technique in reducing recovery time and pain, enabling athletes to return to their peak performance swiftly and safely.
Key findings:
- The study showed that the Minimal Repair technique is highly effective in preserving the natural flexibility and function of the abdominal wall by using the body’s own tissues, avoiding synthetic meshes.
- Athletes were able to resume training swiftly, typically within 7 days, with many returning to full performance within 14 days.
- The technique significantly reduced chronic pain and minimised complications, leading to high levels of patient satisfaction.
- The approach was validated through rigorous diagnostics and careful post-operative recovery plans tailored to the needs of elite athletes.
Why this matters
This research highlights the Minimal Repair technique as a superior treatment for sportsman’s groin, offering elite athletes a reliable and efficient path to recovery and optimal performance .
Muschaweck U, Koch A. Sportlerleiste : Begriffsbestimmung, Differenzialdiagnostik und Therapie [Sportsmen’s groin : Definition, differential diagnosis and treatment]. Radiologe. 2019 Mar;59(3):224-233. German. ↗
Elevating groin hernia surgery for elite athletes
As pioneers in mesh-free hernia surgery, we offer innovative, athlete-focused treatments. Over 25 years ago, our surgeons challenged the widespread use of plastic meshes, driving our mission for safer, natural solutions.
Dr. Muschaweck, one of our renowned surgeons, developed the Minimal Repair technique, setting a new standard for treating groin injuries in elite athletes. Her method preserves the body’s natural flexibility, avoiding unnecessary stress. With decades of experience, our expert team ensures that athletes receive the highest standard of care.
What our experience means for athletes:
Faster return-to-sport
Reduced operation risks
Reduced recurrence rates
Introduction of lighter forms of anesthesia
Preservering important muscles and nerves
Reduced incision size
Reduced suture materials
Less operating time
Development of post-operative recovery plans for top mobility
Recovery and rehabilitation tailored for athletes
To complement our Minimal Repair technique, we’ve developed specialised recovery and rehabilitation programs in partnership with Europe’s leading sports medical centers, including Fysiomed in Amsterdam and the Lewin Clinic in London. These programs are specifically designed to help athletes return to their sport faster and safer, focusing on rebuilding strength, mobility, and performance with care and precision.
Contact our team
If you are a professional athlete or a representative, please use this form to ask questions or arrange an operation.
✅ Surgery within 7 days – Available in Germany or the UK
✅ Fast response – We will contact you within 1 hour on working days
📌 Please note: This form is exclusively for professional athletes and their representatives. For general inquiries, please use our standard contact form ↗