Kinematic and kinetic changes in a hurdle hop task following athletic groin pain rehabilitation

Abstract

in side-lying using an eccentric break test with a hand held dynamometer (HHD) and were normalized to body weight and lever arm. The squeeze test at 45◦ hip flexion was also performed using the HHD. Flexibility measures included hip internal rotation (IR) in both 90◦ flexion and prone, hip Abd in side-lying and bent knee fall out (BKFO). Demographic information was collected pertaining to age, height, weight, leg dominance, past history of hip and groin injury and ethnicity. Pain on each testing procedure was recorded using a numerical rating scale. The effect each of these variables had on the strength and flexibility profiles was analysed using statistical methods appropriate for the variable type. Results: Normative values for strength were as follows (mean± SD); hip Add non-dominant =3.2±0.6Nm/kg, dominant =3.1±0.6Nm/kg; hip Abd both legs 2.4±0.4Nm/kg; Add:Abd ratios non-dominant =1.4±0.3, dominant =1.3±0.3; squeeze test 3.2±0.8N/kg; hip IR in flexion both legs =37±8◦, hip IR in prone non-dominant =36±8◦, dominant =37±8◦, hip Abd in side lying both legs =47±8◦, BKFO non-dominant =13.5±4.1 cm, dominant =13.7±4.1 cm. Leg dominance and a past history of injury had no clinically relevant effect on the strength and flexibility profiles of the footballers. However, players with pain on squeeze testing recorded significantly lower scores (p≤0.05). Discussion: These reference profiles in footballers can now be used by clinicians in their assessment and management of footballers. The results demonstrate that a clinician can confidently compare the strength and flexibility profile with the non-injured leg when assessing a player with unilateral pain. Pain on clinical testing resulted in lower squeeze values, but a past history of hip or groin injury does not affect these profiles in a healthy group of footballers.