Return to Performance of a Soccer Player with an Adductor Longus Injury: A Case Report

Abstract

Context: There is limited information on the quantification of external load and reconditioning programs during adductor longus injuries in soccer. Case Presentation: This case report describes a male professional soccer player (LaLiga) returning to performance following an adductor longus muscle injury during the 2022/2023 season. The player suffered the injury during a change of direction in a match. The injury was confirmed by ultrasound after 48 h, and the previously validated rehabilitation and reconditioning program was applied to the injured player. This case report has focused on the development of the on-field reconditioning program and the quantification of the load during this phase. The goal of this case report was to return the player to pre-injury loads using global positioning systems (GPS). Variables such as total distance, distances covered at different speeds and metabolic load variables were quantified during the injury process, with the aim of increasing them through training and reaching at least 75% of the game load. Therefore, objective performance criteria for making return-to-play decisions based on the use of GPS was determined. In addition, the return to play (RTP) was on the 20th day after the injury, and then four RTPs were recorded in the following 6 weeks after the injury occurred, without re-injury. Conclusions: The approach to the competition performance profile, through the quantification of the external load during the rehabilitation process of the injured player, allowed us a safe return to competition and continued competition with a 6-week follow-up.