Implementation of the Adductor Strengthening Programme: Players primed for adoption but reluctant to maintain - A cross-sectional study.

Joar Harøy,Espen Guldahl Wiger,Thor Einar Andersen,Roald Bahr

doi:10.1111/sms.13444

Joar Harøy, Espen Guldahl Wiger + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.13444

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Abstract

Groin injuries represent a considerable problem in male football, accounting for 4%‐19% of all time‐loss injuries. The Adductor Strengthening Programme is the first groin‐specific prevention program shown to reduce the risk of groin problems. We aimed to use the RE‐AIM framework to examine the players’ experiences with the implementation of the program and player attitude toward groin injury prevention in football. Of the 632 players involved in the trial examining the effect of the Adductor Strengthening Programme, 501 agreed to participate in a survey at the end of the season. Most players thought that footballers are at moderate to high risk for groin injuries (87%) and that there is a need for preventive measures (96%). They also believed that a preventive program with strengthening exercises would reduce the risk of groin injuries (91%). Majority of the players reported using <5 minutes to complete the program (73%), and only 11% wanted additional exercises. However, only 46% reported to have performed the program as recommended, and an even smaller proportion (31%) planned to continue using it as recommended the next season. Our results suggest that footballers believe that prevention of groin injuries is needed. Attitude toward implementation of the Adductor Strengthening Programme was positive, and the single‐exercise approach was considered an important facilitator. However, in future dissemination of the program, the players’ reluctance to maintain the exercise protocol may be a potential barrier to implementation that should be addressed.

Highlights

Groin injuries represent a considerable problem in male football, accounting for 4%‐19% of all time‐loss injuries.[1]
We investigated player attitudes toward groin injury prevention
The main findings of this survey of Norwegian semi‐professional football players were that most players believed that footballers are at moderate to high risk for groin injuries and that there is a need for groin injury preventive training or other measures

Summary

Introduction

Groin injuries represent a considerable problem in male football, accounting for 4%‐19% of all time‐loss injuries.[1] At the elite level, 14%‐17% of all players incur a groin injury causing time loss each season.[2] During a period with match congestion, 59% of males reported at least one episode with groin problems.[3]. Several preventive measures have been suggested to reduce the high groin injury rates. Groin‐specific exercise programs aiming to prevent groin injuries have not. Shown any significant effects.[4] The groin‐specific interventions have had a combined focus on hip adductors, flexors, and abdominals.[5,6] recently, the Adductor Strengthening Programme, a simple, single‐exercise program based on the Copenhagen Adduction exercise,[7] was shown to reduce the risk of groin problems among male football players with 41%.8

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