Effects of Whole-Season Training and Match-Play on Hip Adductor and Abductor Muscle Strength in Soccer Players: A Pilot Study

Hip adduction and abduction strength values in elite-level male and female youth soccer players: A comparison between sexes, and across age-groups

OBJECTIVES

To report isometric hip adduction squeeze and abduction press strength values of elite-level youth male and female soccer players and examine if differences exist between sexes, and age-groups.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional cohort study.

SETTING

Elite youth soccer academy.

PARTICIPANTS

102 soccer players (n = 64; male, n = 38 female) competing in the national youth soccer leagues from under (U) 14-19 years of age level (U-14, U-15, U-17, U-19).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Isometric hip adduction and abduction strength values were measured with a ForceFrame in various testing positions.

RESULTS

Isometric hip adduction and abduction strength values are presented. Male U-17 and U-19 players demonstrated significantly greater (p < 0.05) absolute(N) and relative (N/kg) hip adduction and abduction strength than their female counterparts, with large (η2 = 0.068-0.227) and medium-to-large (η2 = 0.049-0.234) effect size, respectively. Significant differences in absolute strength, but not relative strength, were observed for hip adduction and abduction between male age-groups (U-14, U-15, U-17, U-19), with hip abduction strength differences only existing between U-14 and U-17 groups. No significant differences in hip strength were observed between U-17 and U-19 groups for female players.

CONCLUSION

Male youth soccer players have higher absolute and relative hip adduction and abduction strength than females at the U-17 and U-19 level.

Changes in Hip Isometric Strength of Female College Soccer Players After High-Workload Training Session

CONTEXT

The hip adductor and abductor muscles play vital roles as stabilizers in the lower-extremity. Their activation during soccer-specific actions is essential, but local muscular fatigue can hinder athletic performance and increase the risk of injury.

DESIGN

This study aimed to observe the variations in frontal plane hip strength in female college soccer players before and after a high-workload soccer-specific training session. Furthermore, the study sought to compare the relative changes in hip strength with the internal and external load measures obtained during that session.

METHODS

Twenty female college soccer players participated in a retrospective observational study. Isometric hip adductor and abductor strength were measured before and after a training session in the college spring season. Measurements were taken with a handheld dynamometer (MicroFET 2) while the players were supine. Global positioning system sensors (Catapult Vector S7), commonly worn by players during training sessions and competitive matches, were used to measure external and internal loads. Statistical analyses were performed using paired samples t test to assess hip adductor and abductor strength changes before and after the training session. Spearman rank was used to identify correlation coefficients between global positioning system data and isometric hip strength.

RESULTS

The findings revealed significant decreases in the strength of the right hip adduction (P = .012, -7% relative change), right abduction (P = .009, -7.6% relative change), and left abduction (P = .016, -4.9% relative change) after the training session. Furthermore, relative decreases in hip isometric adduction and abduction strength are related to the distance covered at high speeds.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study highlight that hip isometric adduction and abduction strength tend to decrease after exposure to high workloads during soccer-specific training.

Field Hip Stability Isometric Test (F-HipSIT): Reliability of Assessing the Hip Posterolateral Muscle Strength in Sports Settings

CONTEXT

The Hip Stability Isometric Test (HipSIT) is commonly employed in clinical settings for evaluating the hip posterolateral muscle strength. In this study, we introduced the "Field Hip Stability Isometric Test" (F-HipSIT) and assessed the intrarater and interrater reliability of this strength assessment specifically designed for sports settings.

DESIGN

Reliability study.

METHODS

Two independent raters (A and B) went to athletes' training facilities to conduct 2 sessions of F-HipSIT spaced at least 1 week apart. The average peak force value from 3 valid attempts of each leg was recorded and normalized by the participant's body mass for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

Thirty male and 30 female amateur athletes took part in this study. Rater A obtained similar values in the first (0.39 [0.05] and 0.44 [0.07] kg·f/kg) and second (0.39 [0.06] and 0.45 [0.07] kg·f/kg) testing days for men and women, respectively. Rater B also found similar values in the first (0.35 [0.06] and 0.42 [0.08] kg·f/kg) and second (0.36 [0.06] and 0.45 [0.08] kg·f/kg) testing days for men and women, respectively. Excellent intrarater intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) values were found for men (ICC = .922) and women (ICC = .930), with coefficient of variation of 6% to 8% and minimal detectable change of 0.06 to 0.10 kg·f/kg. The F-HipSIT presented good interrater reliability for men (ICC = .857) and women (ICC = .868), with coefficient of variation of 5% and minimal detectable change of 0.05 to 0.06 kg·f/kg.

CONCLUSION

The F-HipSIT intrarater and interrater reliability among male and female recreational athletes supports this field test as a quick and convenient screening tool to monitor hip posterolateral muscle strength in sports settings.

Gender-specific hip strength disparities correlate with injury patterns in NCAA men's and women's soccer players

BACKGROUND

In National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) soccer athletes, men have higher rates of hip and groin strains, whereas women have higher rates of knee ligament injuries. Strength imbalances of the hip and thigh, specifically in agonist-antagonist muscles, are known risk factors for these injuries.

OBJECTIVE

To perform hip and thigh strength assessments in NCAA soccer players to evaluate for differences between genders and correlations with gender-specific injury patterns.

DESIGN

With a handheld dynamometer, weight-normalized isometric strength of six muscle groups (hip abductors, hip adductors, hip flexors, hip extensors, knee flexors, knee extensors) was calculated in NCAA soccer players. The strength ratio of each agonist-antagonist muscle was also calculated (hip abductors/adductors, hip flexors/extensors, knee extensors/flexors).

PARTICIPANTS

Thirty-six NCAA soccer players (18 men, 18 women) from a single NCAA Division III institution.

INTERVENTIONS

Not applicable.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Weight-normalized strength of six muscle groups and their agonist-antagonist strength ratios were compared between genders using linear mixed-effects models.

RESULTS

Compared with male players, female players had decreased weight-normalized strength for hip abduction (0.170 vs. 0.204, p = .012) and hip extension (0.172 vs. 0.211, p = .021). Otherwise, weight-normalized strength was similar between genders. When comparing agonist-antagonist strength ratios, there was a significant difference between female and male players for hip flexion:extension (1.70 vs. 1.35, p = .008), whereas the hip abduction: adduction ratio did not reach statistical significance (1.45 vs. 1.62, p = .080).

CONCLUSIONS

NCAA male and female soccer players had different hip strength profiles that fit their injury patterns. Male NCAA soccer players have higher rates of hip and groin strains, and men in the cohort had strength ratios that were deficient in the hip flexors and adductors compared with women. Female NCAA soccer players have higher rates of knee sprains and anterior cruciate ligament tears, and women in the cohort had strength ratios that were deficient in the hip abductors and extensors, which function to stabilize the knee. These strength disparities could be the focus of future gender-specific soccer injury prevention programs.

Monitoring modifiable injury risk factors over an in-season mesocycle in semi-professional female field hockey players

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to determine changes of modifiable injury risk factors and fatigue parameters during a mesocycle (4 months of the competitive season) in semi-professional female field hockey players (Spanish 2nd Division).

METHODS

Fourteen female field hockey players (age: 22.6 ± 4.9 years) participated in the study over 4 months of the competitive season (September-December 2019). The players were tested each month for their: maximal isometric knee flexion, hip adduction, and abduction muscle strength; passive straight leg raise and ankle dorsiflexion range of motion (ROM); countermovement jump height; and perceptual fatigue (through a perceived well-being questionnaire).

RESULTS

Statistical differences were reported in isometric knee flexion torque in the dominant and non-dominant limb (p = < 0.001, ηp2 = 0.629,0.786 respectively), non-dominant isometric hip abductors torque (p = 0.016, ηp2 = 0.266) and isometric hip adductors torque in dominant and non-dominant limbs (p = < 0.001, ηp2 = 0.441-546). Also, significant differences were reported in the straight leg raise test (p = < 0.001, ηp2 = 0-523, 0.556) and ankle dorsiflexion (p = 0.001, ηp2 = 0.376, 0.377) for the dominant and non-dominant limb respectively. Finally, the jump height measured showed significant differences (p = <.001, ηp2 = 0.490), while no differences were reported in perceived well-being parameters (p = 0.089-0.459).

CONCLUSION

Increments in isometric muscle strength and fluctuations in ROM values and vertical jumping capacity are reported over an in-season mesocycle (i.e., 4 months of the competitive season). This information can be used to target recovery strategies to make them more efficient.