The Adductor Strengthening Programme prevents groin problems among male football players: a cluster-randomised controlled trial

TY - JOUR

T1 - The Adductor Strengthening Programme prevents groin problems among male football players

T2 - a cluster-randomised controlled trial

AU - Harøy, Joar

AU - Clarsen, Benjamin

AU - Wiger, Espen Guldahl

AU - Øyen, Mari Glomnes

AU - Serner, Andreas

AU - Thorborg, Kristian

AU - Hölmich, Per

AU - Andersen, Thor Einar

AU - Bahr, Roald

N1 - © Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2019. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.

PY - 2019/2

Y1 - 2019/2

N2 - BACKGROUND: Groin injuries represent a considerable problem in male football. Previous groin-specific prevention programmes have not shown a significant reduction in groin injury rates. An exercise programme using the Copenhagen Adduction exercise increases hip adduction strength, a key risk factor for groin injuries. However, its preventive effect is yet to be tested.AIM: To evaluate the effect of a single-exercise approach, based on the Copenhagen Adduction exercise, on the prevalence of groin problems in male football players.METHODS: 35 semiprofessional Norwegian football teams were cluster-randomised into an intervention group (18 teams, 339 players) and a control group (17 teams, 313 players). The intervention group performed an Adductor Strengthening Programme using one exercise, with three progression levels, three times per week during the preseason (6-8 weeks), and once per week during the competitive season (28 weeks). The control group were instructed to train as normal. The prevalence of groin problems was measured weekly in both groups during the competitive season using the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center Overuse Injury Questionnaire.RESULTS: The average prevalence of groin problems during the season was 13.5% (95% CI 12.3% to 14.7%) in the intervention group and 21.3% (95% CI 20.0% to 22.6%) in the control group. The risk of reporting groin problems was 41% lower in the intervention group (OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.40 to 0.86, p=0.008).CONCLUSION: The simple Adductor Strengthening Programme substantially reduced the self-reported prevalence and risk of groin problems in male football players.TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN98514933.

AB - BACKGROUND: Groin injuries represent a considerable problem in male football. Previous groin-specific prevention programmes have not shown a significant reduction in groin injury rates. An exercise programme using the Copenhagen Adduction exercise increases hip adduction strength, a key risk factor for groin injuries. However, its preventive effect is yet to be tested.AIM: To evaluate the effect of a single-exercise approach, based on the Copenhagen Adduction exercise, on the prevalence of groin problems in male football players.METHODS: 35 semiprofessional Norwegian football teams were cluster-randomised into an intervention group (18 teams, 339 players) and a control group (17 teams, 313 players). The intervention group performed an Adductor Strengthening Programme using one exercise, with three progression levels, three times per week during the preseason (6-8 weeks), and once per week during the competitive season (28 weeks). The control group were instructed to train as normal. The prevalence of groin problems was measured weekly in both groups during the competitive season using the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center Overuse Injury Questionnaire.RESULTS: The average prevalence of groin problems during the season was 13.5% (95% CI 12.3% to 14.7%) in the intervention group and 21.3% (95% CI 20.0% to 22.6%) in the control group. The risk of reporting groin problems was 41% lower in the intervention group (OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.40 to 0.86, p=0.008).CONCLUSION: The simple Adductor Strengthening Programme substantially reduced the self-reported prevalence and risk of groin problems in male football players.TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN98514933.

KW - Adult

KW - Athletes

KW - Athletic Injuries/prevention & control

KW - Groin/injuries

KW - Humans

KW - Male

KW - Muscle Strength

KW - Norway

KW - Physical Conditioning, Human/methods

KW - Prevalence

KW - Soccer/injuries

KW - Young Adult

U2 - 10.1136/bjsports-2017-098937

DO - 10.1136/bjsports-2017-098937

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 29891614

SN - 0306-3674

VL - 53

SP - 145

EP - 152

JO - British Journal of Sports Medicine

JF - British Journal of Sports Medicine

IS - 3

ER -