Why do construction workers get hernias seemingly more than strength athletes?

Question

I don’t often hear of powerlifters or olympic weightlifters getting umbilical hernias, for instance. However, blue collar workers talk about it all the time; “don’t lift that without help, you could get a hernia!” Etc. What gives?

In: 4

Answer 1

Many muscle injuries are due to an imbalance in the muscles. For example, running gives you stronger quadriceps (front of thigh) muscles, so it’s easy to injure the hamstrings (back of thighs) because they aren’t strengthened but are subject to the greater forces of the stronger quads. Athletes know this and work the opposing muscles to strengthen them. Construction workers likely do not, and also lift with poor form.