Hip Strength Testing of Soccer Players With Long-Standing Hip and Groin Pain: What are the Clinical Implications of Pain During Testing?. Issue 3 (May 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rafn, Bolette S.; Tang, Lars; Nielsen, Martin P.; Branci, Sonia; Hölmich, Per; Thorborg, Kristian
• Is Part Of: Clinical journal of sport medicine. Volume 26:Issue 3(2016)
• Publication Date: 2016-05
• Subjects: muscle strength -- hand-held dynamometer -- pain -- hip -- groin -- soccer players; Sports medicine -- Periodicals; 617.1027
• DOI: 10.1097/JSM.0000000000000227
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1050-642X

Abstract

Abstract : Objective: To investigate whether self-reported pain during hip strength testing correlates to a large degree with hip muscle strength in soccer players with long-standing unilateral hip and groin pain. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Clinical assessments at Sports Orthopaedic Research Center-Copenhagen (SORC-C), Arthroscopic Centre Amager, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark. Participants: Twenty-four male soccer players with unilateral long-standing hip and groin pain. Interventions: The soccer players performed 5 reliable hip muscle strength tests (isometric hip flexion, adduction, abduction, isometric hip flexion–modified Thomas test, and eccentric hip adduction). Main Outcome Measures: Muscle strength was measured with a hand-held dynamometer, and the players rated the pain during testing on a numerical rating scale (0-10). Results: In 4 tests (isometric hip adduction, abduction, flexion, and eccentric adduction), no significant correlations were found between pain during testing and hip muscle strength (Spearman rho = −0.28 to 0.06, P = 0.09-0.39). Isometric hip flexion (modified Thomas test position) showed a moderate negative correlation between pain and hip muscle strength (Spearman rho = −0.44, P = 0.016). Conclusions: Self-reported pain during testing does not seem to correlate with the majority of hip muscle strength tests used in soccer players with long-standing hip and groin pain.