Abstract
The aim of this study was to prospectively examine the association between isometric hip adductor strength and between-limb strength asymmetry to groin injuries in male professional soccer players. Isometric hip adductor strength and between-limb strength asymmetry of 45 professional outfield soccer players from three First Division teams were tested during the 2017/2018 preseason. Players were then monitored throughout the 2017/2018 season for groin injuries. Ten groin injuries were recorded. When compared with uninjured players, players who sustained groin injury had significantly lower strength of respective muscle groups and significantly higher between-limb strength asymmetries (all p < 0.05; ES = 1.16 and 0.88; mean % difference = 26% and 51%). Isometric hip adductor strength had a significant inverse relationship with the incidence of occurring groin injuries (p = 0.016). No significant relationship between hip adductor strength asymmetry and the incidence of future groin injury was observed (p = 0.09). Finally, players’ age and previous groin injury were not significantly associated with the incidence of future groin injuries (all p > 0.05). These results generally suggest that isometric adductor strength is a significant predictor of future groin injuries in men’s professional football; however, due to the relatively low sample size, further studies are required.
Highlights
Groin injuries are among the most common injuries in men’s soccer, accounting for 14% to 19% of all injuries [1,2]
Isometric hip adductor strength and between-limb strength asymmetry of 45 professional outfield soccer players from three First Division teams were tested during the 2017/2018 preseason
= 0.25; 95% confidence interval of the difference = 0.30 to 1.29) and significantly higher between-limb adductor strength asymmetry (t = −2.45; p = 0.018; mean difference = −6.87; standard error of difference = 2.80; 95% confidence interval of the difference = −12.51 to −1.22) than uninjured players
Summary
Groin injuries are among the most common injuries in men’s soccer, accounting for 14% to 19% of all injuries [1,2]. Recent epidemiological data suggest that 20–25% of all players sustain a time-loss groin injury in a season [3,4], with recurrence injury rate ranging from 14% [3] to 30% [5]. That the traditional time-loss measure captures only up to one third of all groin problems in male soccer players [6,7]. Groin problems represent a significant health and performance burden in men’s soccer. Among numerous non-modifiable and modifiable risk factors associated with groin injuries in sports [8,10,11], two modifiable factors, i.e., hip adductor strength and hip range of motion, have received particular scientific interest in men’s soccer [12,13,14,15,16,17]. Public Health 2020, 17, 4946; doi:10.3390/ijerph17144946 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
