Resisted adduction in hip neutral is a superior provocation test to assess adductor longus pain: An experimental pain study

Deceleration Capacity During Directional Change as a Time-Efficient (Ecological) Prescreening of Hip Adductor Force Status in Amateur Soccer Players

ABSTRACT

Miralles-Iborra, A, Del Coso, J, De Los Ríos-Calonge, J, Elvira, JLL, Barbado, D, Urban, T, and Moreno-Pérez, V. Deceleration capacity during directional change as a time-efficient (ecological) prescreening of hip adductor force status in amateur soccer players. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2024-Reduced isometric adductor muscle strength has been identified as a modifiable risk factor contributing to injury in soccer players. However, the measurement of hip adductor muscle strength is habitually laboratory-based, with isolated hip movements that do not reflect soccer-specific movements that induce groin injury during match play. This study aimed to determine the usefulness of deceleration capacity during a change of direction (COD) as a time-efficient (ecological) prescreening of hip adductor force status in soccer players. Nineteen amateur soccer players completed unilateral isometric hip adductor strength assessments and a 180° COD test. Isometric hip strength assessment included the maximum peak torque (PT) and maximum rate of torque development (RTDmax) relative to players' body mass. Players' deceleration capacity during the COD test was determined for each leg through maximum deceleration normalized to the linear momentum. A linear regression analysis was performed to associate isometric hip strength variables with the deceleration capacity during the COD test at each leg. There was not a statistically significant association between deceleration capacity and hip isometric maximum PT of the dominant and nondominant legs (r ≤ 0.14, p > 0.05). Nevertheless, a moderate association was found between deceleration capacity and RTDmax for both legs (r ≥ 0.58, p < 0.05). The optimal linear regression model suggests that measuring deceleration capacity during a directional change test could explain RTDmax by 33 and 43% for the dominant and nondominant legs, respectively. During a 180° COD test, the deceleration capacity captured through GPS-accelerometer device was limited as a prescreening tool to evaluate hip adductor force status in soccer players.

A New Clinical Examination Algorithm to Prescribe Conservative Treatment in People with Hip-Related Pain

Hip-related pain is a common issue in active adults affecting their quality of life, mobility, and overall function, and it can lead to persistent disability. However, diagnosing hip-related pain is challenging due to the many potential sources and causes, including intra-articular and extra-articular pathology, and referred pain from other areas (lumbar or groin related pain). To address this, there is a need for a clinical algorithm based on the best available evidence and expert consensus. This algorithm could guide healthcare professionals in assessing and managing patients with hip-related pain, during the diagnosis, test selection, intervention, monitoring, and promoting collaboration among various healthcare providers. This clinical algorithm for hip-related pain is a comprehensive, flexible, adaptable to different settings, and regularly updated to incorporate new research findings. This literature review aims to establish a clinical algorithm specifically for prescribing exercise treatment to patients with hip-related pain, addressing their individual needs and enhancing their overall care.

Maximal and Explosive Muscle Strength During Hip Adduction Squeeze and Hip Abduction Press Test Using A Handheld Dynamometer: An Intra- and Inter-tester Reliability Study

Background

Hip adduction and abduction muscle function plays an important role for risk of groin pain in athletes. Maximal isometric strength can be obtained clinically using a handheld dynamometer. However, in very strong athletes this is challenging, as external fixation of the dynamometer is needed for reliable measures. An alternative to unilateral testing, is the long-lever hip adduction squeeze test and a novel bilateral hip abduction press test. While promising intra-tester reliability has been found for maximal strength during the long-lever hip adduction squeeze test, inter-tester reliability may be more challenging during both maximal and explosive strength measurements.

Hypothesis/purpose

The aim of the present study was to assess intra- and inter-tester reliability of maximal, and explosive strength during the long lever hip adduction squeeze test and the long lever hip abduction press test in healthy adults using a hand-held dynamometer.

Study design

Intra- and interrater reliability study.

Methods

Forty-nine healthy subjects were included for intra- (n=20) and inter-tester reliability (n=29). Subjects performed the hip adduction long lever squeeze test and the bilateral hip abduction press test in a randomized order. Maximal isometric strength and early (0-100 ms) and late (0-200 ms) phase rate of force development (explosive muscle strength) was obtained using a hand-held dynamometer. Relative reliability for all tests was assessed using ICC2,1 two-way mixed model with absolute agreement, thereby taking bias between testers into account.

Results

Maximal isometric strength showed good intra- and inter-tester reliability for adduction (ICC: 0.93-0.97) and abduction (ICC: 0.88-0.92). For 0-200 ms rate of force development, both the squeeze and press test showed good intra-tester reliability (ICC: 0.85-0.87), whereas inter-tester reliability was good for hip adduction squeeze (ICC: 0.75) and moderate for hip abduction press (ICC: 0.71). For 0-100 ms rate of force development, the hip abduction press test showed good intra-tester reliability (ICC: 0.78). Remaining tests for intra- and inter-tester reliability showed moderate reliability (ICC: 0.50-0.71).

Conclusion

Assessment of maximal isometric strength in hip adduction squeeze and abduction press test showed good intra- and inter-tester reliability, whereas only 0-200 ms rate of force development demonstrated good intra-tester reliability of both tests. Therefore, rate of force development should preferably be conducted by the same tester, while the long lever squeeze and press test can reliably be used within- and between testers to measure maximal isometric strength.

Level of Evidence

3©The Author(s).

Past-season, pre-season and in-season risk assessment of groin problems in male football players: a prospective full-season study

OBJECTIVE

We assessed past-season, pre-season and in-season risk factors to investigate their association with an in-season groin problem in male amateur football players.

METHODS

Past-season groin-pain information and pre-season short-lever and long-lever adductor squeeze strength were obtained at baseline, together with anthropometrics (weight, lower limb lever length) and player age. In-season hip-related and groin-related sporting function was monitored every 4 weeks using the Sports and Recreation (Sport) subscale from the Hip And Groin Outcome Score questionnaire (HAGOS (Sport)). Groin problems, including time-loss groin injuries and groin pain irrespective of time loss, were collected over a 39-week competitive in-season. We estimated relative risk (RR), and 95% credibility interval (ICr) from logistic regressions fitted in a Bayesian framework.

RESULTS

Players (n=245) suffering from groin pain during the past-season had 2.4 times higher risk of experiencing a groin problem in the new season (2.40 RR; 95% ICr 1.5 to 3.7). This risk was reduced by 35% (0.65 RR; 95% ICr 0.42 to 0.99) per unit (N·m/kg) increase in the long-lever adductor squeeze test. Player age, short-lever squeeze test and the HAGOS (Sport) scores were not associated with the risk of a groin problem.

CONCLUSIONS

Past-season groin pain increased the risk of a groin problem in the new in-season. This risk was reduced by higher pre-season long-lever adductor squeeze strength. Past-season groin-pain information and long-lever adductor squeeze strength can be quickly obtained during pre-season to identify players with an elevated risk of in-season groin problems. This may be key to reduce these problems in the new season.

Acute experimentally-induced pain replicates the distribution but not the quality or behaviour of clinical appendicular musculoskeletal pain. A systematic review

OBJECTIVES

Experimental pain is a commonly used method to draw conclusions about the motor response to clinical musculoskeletal pain. A systematic review was performed to determine if current models of acute experimental pain validly replicate the clinical experience of appendicular musculoskeletal pain with respect to the distribution and quality of pain and the pain response to provocation testing.

METHODS

A structured search of Medline, Scopus and Embase databases was conducted from database inception to August 2020 using the following key terms: "experimental muscle pain" OR "experimental pain" OR "pain induced" OR "induced pain" OR "muscle hyperalgesia" OR ("Pain model" AND "muscle"). Studies in English were included if investigators induced experimental musculoskeletal pain into a limb (including the sacroiliac joint) in humans, and if they measured and reported the distribution of pain, quality of pain or response to a provocation manoeuvre performed passively or actively. Studies were excluded if they involved prolonged or delayed experimental pain, if temporomandibular, orofacial, lumbar, thoracic or cervical spine pain were investigated, if a full text of the study was not available or if they were systematic reviews. Two investigators independently screened each title and abstract and each full text paper to determine inclusion in the review. Disagreements were resolved by consensus with a third investigator.

RESULTS

Data from 57 experimental pain studies were included in this review. Forty-six of these studies reported pain distribution, 41 reported pain quality and six detailed the pain response to provocation testing. Hypertonic saline injection was the most common mechanism used to induce pain with 43 studies employing this method. The next most common methods were capsaicin injection (5 studies) and electrical stimulation, injection of acidic solution and ischaemia with three studies each. The distribution of experimental pain was similar to the area of pain reported in clinical appendicular musculoskeletal conditions. The quality of appendicular musculoskeletal pain was not replicated with the affective component of the McGill Pain Questionnaire consistently lower than that typically reported by musculoskeletal pain patients. The response to provocation testing was rarely investigated following experimental pain induction. Based on the limited available data, the increase in pain experienced in clinical populations during provocative maneuvers was not consistently replicated.

CONCLUSIONS

Current acute experimental pain models replicate the distribution but not the quality of chronic clinical appendicular musculoskeletal pain. Limited evidence also indicates that experimentally induced acute pain does not consistently increase with tests known to provoke pain in patients with appendicular musculoskeletal pain. The results of this review question the validity of conclusions drawn from acute experimental pain studies regarding changes in muscle behaviour in response to pain in the clinical setting.

Preseason Adductor Squeeze Strength in 303 Spanish Male Soccer Athletes: A Cross-sectional Study

Background:

Hip adductor muscle weakness and a history of groin injury both have been identified as strong risk factors for sustaining a new groin injury. Current groin pain and age have been associated with hip adductor strength. These factors could be related, but this has never been investigated.

Purpose:

To investigate whether soccer athletes with past-season groin pain and with different durations of past-season groin pain had lower preseason hip adductor squeeze strength compared with those without past-season groin pain. We also investigated whether differences in preseason hip adductor squeeze strength in relation to past-season groin pain and duration were influenced by current groin pain and age.

Study Design:

Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

In total, 303 male soccer athletes (mean age, 23 ± 4 years; mean weight, 74.0 ± 7.9 kg; mean height, 178.1 ± 6.3 cm) were included in this study. Self-reported data regarding current groin pain, past-season groin pain, and duration were collected. Hip adductor squeeze strength was obtained using 2 different reliable testing procedures: (1) the short-lever (resistance placed between the knees, feet at the examination bed, and 45° of hip flexion) and (2) the long-lever (resistance placed between the ankles and 0° of hip flexion) squeeze tests.

Results:

There was no difference between those with (n = 123) and without (n = 180) past-season groin pain for hip adductor squeeze strength when adjusting for current groin pain and age. However, athletes with past-season groin pain lasting longer than 6 weeks (n = 27) showed 11.5% and 15.3% lower values on the short-lever (P = .006) and long-lever (P < .001) hip adductor squeeze strength tests, respectively, compared with those without past-season groin pain.

Conclusion:

Male soccer athletes with past-season groin pain lasting longer than 6 weeks are likely to begin the next season with a high-risk groin injury profile, including a history of groin pain and hip adduction weakness.