Validity of a Rehab and Reconditioning Program Following an Adductor Longus Injury in Professional Soccer

Abstract

The high rates of adductor injuries and reinjuries in soccer have suggested that the current rehabilitation programs may be insufficient; therefore, there is a need to create prevention and reconditioning programs to prepare athletes for the specific demands of the sport. The aim of this study is to validate a rehab and reconditioning program (RRP) for adductor injuries through a panel of experts and determine the effectiveness of this program through its application in professional soccer. A 20-item RRP was developed, which was validated by a panel of experts anonymously and then applied to 12 injured male professional soccer players. Soccer pitch and indoor gym. Eight rehabilitation fitness coaches (age = 33.25 [2.49]y) and 8 academic researchers (age = 38.50 [3.74]y) with PhDs in sports science and/or physiotherapy. The RRP was applied to 12 male professional players (age = 23.75 [4.97]y; height = 180.56 [8.41]cm; mass = 76.89 [3.43]kg) of the Spanish First and Second Division (La Liga). The experts validated an indoor and on-field reconditioning program, which was based on strengthening the injured muscle and retraining conditional capacities with the aim of reducing the risk of reinjury. Aiken V for each item of the program and number of days taken by the players to return to full team training. The experts evaluated all items of the program very highly as seen from Aiken V values between 0.77 and 0.94 (range: 0.61-0.98) for all drills, and the return to training was in 13.08 (±1.42) days. This RRP following an injury to the adductor longus was validated by injury experts, and initial results suggested that it could permit a faster return to team training.