Hip muscle strength is decreased in middle-aged recreational male athletes with midportion Achilles tendinopathy: A cross-sectional study. (May 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Habets, B.; Smits, H.W.; Backx, F.J.G.; van Cingel, R.E.H.; Huisstede, B.M.A.
• Is Part Of: Physical therapy in sport. Volume 25(2017)
• Page Start: 55
• Page End: 61
• Publication Date: 2017-05
• Subjects: Achilles tendon -- Tendinopathy -- Muscle strength -- Hip; Sports physical therapy -- Periodicals; Sports injuries -- Patients -- Rehabilitation -- Periodicals; Athletic Injuries -- diagnosis -- Periodicals; Athletic Injuries -- therapy -- Periodicals; Physical Therapy -- Periodicals; Sports Medicine -- Periodicals; 615.82088796
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ptsp.2016.09.008
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1466-853X

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: Investigating differences in hip muscle strength between athletes with Achilles tendinopathy (AT) and asymptomatic controls. Design: Cross-sectional case-control study. Setting: Sports medical center. Participants: Twelve recreational male athletes with mid-portion AT and twelve matched asymptomatic controls. Outcome measures: Isometric strength of the hip abductors, external rotators, and extensors was measured using a handheld dynamometer. Functional hip muscle performance was evaluated with the single-leg squat. The Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment–Achilles (VISA-A) questionnaire was completed to determine clinical severity of symptoms. Results: Compared to controls, participants with AT demonstrated 28.9% less isometric hip abduction strength (p = 0.012), 34.2% less hip external rotation strength (p = 0.010), and 28.3% less hip extension strength (p = 0.034) in the injured limb. Similar differences were found for the non-injured limb (26.7–41.8%; p < 0.03). No significant differences were found in functional hip muscle performance between the injured and non-injured limb or between the groups, and no significant correlation was found between hip muscle strength and VISA-A scores. Conclusion: Recreational male athletes with chronic mid-portion AT demonstrated bilateral weakness of hip abductors, external rotators, and extensors compared to their asymptomatic counterparts. These findings suggest that hip muscle strength may be important in the assessment and rehabilitation of those with AT. Highlights: Hip muscle dysfunction may be linked to persistence of symptoms in mid-portion AT. We investigated hip muscle strength in patients with AT compared to healthy controls. Hip muscle strength of both limbs was significantly decreased in recreational male athletes with chronic mid-portion AT.