SECTION I - KINESIOLOGY / RESEARCH PAPER
Match-Related Acute and Residual Changes of Hip-Adduction Strength in Youth Soccer Players
1
UCAM Research Center for High Performance Sport, Catholic University of Murcia (UCAM), Murcia, Spain.
2
Faculty of Sport Sciences, Catholic University of Murcia (UCAM), Murcia, Spain.
3
Strength and Conditioning Society (SCS), Murcia, Spain.
4
Department of Sports, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Orthopedic Research Center Copenhagen (SORC C), Amager Hvidovre Hospital, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Submission date: 2024-11-26
Final revision date: 2025-02-13
Acceptance date: 2025-04-25
Online publication date: 2025-09-23
Corresponding author
Maziar J. Hamad
UCAM Research Center for High Performance Sport, Catholic University of Murcia (UCAM), Murcia, Spain, Spain
UCAM Research Center for High Performance Sport, Catholic University of Murcia (UCAM), Murcia, Spain, Spain
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in isometric hip-adductor strength (ADDiso) following official matches in youth soccer players. In this observational study, eighteen young soccer players (age: 18.03 ± 0.53 years; body mass: 69.03 ± 5.70 kg; body height: 1.75 ± 0.06 m) participated. ADDiso and match external demands were measured using a hand-held dynamometer and foot-mounted inertial measurement units, respectively, during official matches (match 1, M1 and match 2, M2) at pre-match (Pre), post-match (Post), and 24 hours post (+24h). In M1, ADDiso decreased significantly from Pre to Post (p = 0.003, ES = −1.14), then increased Post to +24h (p = 0.002, ES = 1.49). In M2, ADDiso decreased significantly Pre to Post (p < 0.001, ES = −1.41) then increased Post to +24h (p < 0.001, ES = 2.39). Non-significant differences were found Pre to +24h for M1 (p = 1.00, ES = 0.09), while the M2 +24h time point was significantly higher than Pre (p = 0.039, ES = 0.83). Regarding external match demands, players performed significantly higher releases per min in M1 compared to M2 (p = 0.024, ES = 1.10); conversely, intense speed changes per min (accelerations and decelerations) were significantly higher in M2 (p = 0.050, ES = −0.93). ADDiso decreased post-match on average between 12 and 22% in this sample of youth soccer players. The average reduction in strength was larger after M2 which may be explained by different external demands like more intense speed changes. Further research into different game intensities and their potential influence on hip-adduction strength seems relevant.
REFERENCES (33)
1.
Bahr, R., Clarsen, B., & Ekstrand, J. (2018). Why we should focus on the burden of injuries and illnesses, not just their incidence. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 52(16), 1018–1021. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjspor....
2.
Bortnik, L., Nir, O., Forbes, N., Alexander, J., Harper, D., Bruce-Low, S., Carling, C., & Rhodes, D. (2024). Worst case scenarios in soccer training and competition: Analysis of playing position, congested periods, and substitutes. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 95(3), 588–600. https://doi.org/10.1080/027013....
3.
Buchheit, M., Lacome, M., Cholley, Y., & Simpson, B. M. (2018). Neuromuscular Responses to Conditioned Soccer Sessions Assessed via GPS-Embedded Accelerometers: Insights Into Tactical Periodization. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 13(5), 577–583. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.....
4.
Buchheit, M., Morgan, W., Wallace, J., Bode, M., & Poulos, N. (2017, November 7). Monitoring post-match lower-limb recovery in elite Australian Rules Football using a groin squeeze strength test. https://sportperfsci.com/wp-co...; accessed on 28 July 2024.
5.
de Dios-Álvarez, V., Padrón-Cabo, A., Alkain- Villa, P., Rey, E., & Castellano, J. (2025). Area per Player in Small-Sided Games to Estimate the External Load in Elite Youth Soccer Players. Journal of Human Kinetics, 95, 123–138. https://doi.org/10.5114/jhk/18....
6.
DeLang, M. D., Garrison, J. C., Hannon, J. P., Ishøi, L., & Thorborg, K. (2023). Weekly screening of youth male football players: a 14-week longitudinal investigation of interactions between groin pain and long lever adductor squeeze strength. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport / Sports Medicine Australia, 26(3), 159–163. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsam....
7.
Dupré, T., Tryba, J., & Potthast, W. (2021). Muscle activity of cutting manoeuvres and soccer inside passing suggests an increased groin injury risk during these movements. Scientific Reports, 11(1), 7223. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598....
8.
Hanna, C. M., Fulcher, M. L., Elley, C. R., & Moyes, S. A. (2010). Normative values of hip strength in adult male association football players assessed by handheld dynamometry. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport / Sports Medicine Australia, 13(3), 299–303. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsam....
9.
Harøy, J., Clarsen, B., Thorborg, K., Hölmich, P., Bahr, R., & Andersen, T. (2017). Groin problems in male soccer players are more common than previously reported. The American Journal of Sports Medicine, 45, 1304–1308. https://doi.org/10.1177/036354....
10.
Harøy, J., Clarsen, B., Wiger, E. G., Øyen, M. G., Serner, A., Thorborg, K., Hölmich, P., Andersen, T. E., & Bahr, R. (2019). The Adductor Strengthening Programme prevents groin problems among male football players: a cluster-randomised controlled trial. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 53(3), 150–157. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjspor....
12.
Lakens, D. (2013). Calculating and reporting effect sizes to facilitate cumulative science: a practical primer for t-tests and ANOVAs. Frontiers in Psychology, 4, 863. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.....
13.
Light, N. (2019). The effect of acute match play loading on hip adductor strength and flexibility in soccer players. The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, 59(2), 325–329. https://doi.org/10.23736/S0022....
14.
Light, N., & Thorborg, K. (2016). The precision and torque production of common hip adductor squeeze tests used in elite football. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 19(11), 888–892. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsam....
15.
Markovic, G., Šarabon, N., Pausic, J., & Hadžić, V. (2020). Adductor Muscles Strength and Strength Asymmetry as Risk Factors for Groin Injuries among Professional Soccer Players: A Prospective Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(14), 4946. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph....
16.
Mentiplay, B. F., Perraton, L. G., Bower, K. J., Adair, B., Pua, Y.-H., Williams, G. P., McGaw, R., & Clark, R. A. (2015). Assessment of Lower Limb Muscle Strength and Power Using Hand-Held and Fixed Dynamometry: A Reliability and Validity Study. PloS One, 10(10), e0140822. https://doi.org/10.1371/journa....
17.
Myhill, N., Weaving, D., Robinson, M., Barrett, S., & Emmonds, S. (2023). Concurrent validity and between-unit reliability of a foot-mounted inertial measurement unit to measure velocity during team sport activity. Science & Medicine in Football, 8(4), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1080/247339....
18.
Quintana-Cepedal, M., Vicente-Rodríguez, G., Crespo, I., & Olmedillas, H. (2024). Is hip adductor or abductor strength in healthy athletes associated with future groin pain? A systematic review and meta-analysis. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 0, 1–9 https://doi.org/10.1136/bjspor....
19.
Roe, G. A. B., Phibbs, P. J., Till, K., Jones, B. L., Read, D. B., Weakley, J. J., & Darrall-Jones, J. D. (2016). Changes in Adductor Strength After Competition in Academy Rugby Union Players. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research / National Strength & Conditioning Association, 30(2), 344–350. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.00....
20.
Sánchez-Migallón, V., López-Samanes, Á., Del Coso, J., Navandar, A., Aagaard, P., & Moreno-Pérez, V. (2022). Effects of consecutive days of matchplay on maximal hip abductor and adductor strength in female field hockey players. BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation, 14(1), 3. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102....
21.
Serner, A., Mosler, A. B., Tol, J. L., Bahr, R., & Weir, A. (2019). Mechanisms of acute adductor longus injuries in male football players: a systematic visual video analysis. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 53(3), 158–164. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjspor....
22.
Springham, M., Singh, N., Stewart, P., Matthews, J., Jones, I., Norton-Sherwood, C., May, D., Trehan Sharma, S., Salter, J., Strudwick, A. J., & Shaw, J. (2024). Acute neuromuscular and perceptual responses to U-18 English Premier League academy football match play. European Journal of Sport Science: EJSS: Official Journal of the European College of Sport Science, 24(10), 1405–1413. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejsc.1....
23.
Thorborg, K., Branci, S., Nielsen, M. P., Langelund, M. T., & Hölmich, P. (2017a). Copenhagen five-second squeeze: a valid indicator of sports-related hip and groin function. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 51(7), 594–599. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjspor....
24.
Thorborg, K., Branci, S., Nielsen, M. P., Tang, L., Nielsen, M. B., & Hölmich, P. (2014). Eccentric and isometric hip adduction strength in male soccer players with and without adductor-related groin pain: An assessor-blinded comparison. Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine, 2(2), 2325967114521778. https://doi.org/10.1177/232596....
25.
Thorborg, K., Petersen, J., Magnusson, S. P., & Hölmich, P. (2010). Clinical assessment of hip strength using a hand-held dynamometer is reliable. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 20(3), 493–501. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600....
26.
Thorborg, K., Rathleff, M. S., Petersen, P., Branci, S., & Hölmich, P. (2017b). Prevalence and severity of hip and groin pain in sub-elite male football: a cross-sectional cohort study of 695 players. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 27(1), 107–114. https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.12....
27.
Verschueren, J., Tassignon, B., De Pauw, K., Proost, M., Teugels, A., Van Cutsem, J., Roelands, B., Verhagen, E., & Meeusen, R. (2020). Does Acute Fatigue Negatively Affect Intrinsic Risk Factors of the Lower Extremity Injury Risk Profile? A Systematic and Critical Review. Sports Medicine, 50(4), 767–784. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279....
28.
von Elm, E., Altman, D. G., Egger, M., Pocock, S. J., Gøtzsche, P. C., & Vandenbroucke, J. P. (2007). The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) statement: guidelines for reporting observational studies. Lancet, 370(9596), 1453–1457. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-....
29.
Watanabe, K., Nunome, H., Inoue, K., Iga, T., & Akima, H. (2020). Electromyographic analysis of hip adductor muscles in soccer instep and side-foot kicking. Sports Biomechanics / International Society of Biomechanics in Sports, 19(3), 295–306. https://doi.org/10.1080/147631....
30.
Werner, J., Hägglund, M., Ekstrand, J., & Waldén, M. (2019). Hip and groin time-loss injuries decreased slightly but injury burden remained constant in men’s professional football: the 15-year prospective UEFA Elite Club Injury Study. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 53(9), 539–546. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjspor....
31.
Whittaker, J. L., Small, C., Maffey, L., & Emery, C. A. (2015). Risk factors for groin injury in sport: an updated systematic review. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 49(12), 803–809. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjspor....
32.
Wollin, M., Pizzari, T., Spagnolo, K., Welvaert, M., & Thorborg, K. (2018a). The effects of football match congestion in an international tournament on hip adductor squeeze strength and pain in elite youth players. Journal of Sports Sciences, 36(10), 1167–1172. https://doi.org/10.1080/026404....
33.
Wollin, M., Thorborg, K., Welvaert, M., & Pizzari, T. (2018b). In-season monitoring of hip and groin strength, health and function in elite youth soccer: Implementing an early detection and management strategy over two consecutive seasons. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport / Sports Medicine Australia, 21(10), 988–993. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsam....
Share
RELATED ARTICLE
| eISSN: | 1899-7562 |
| ISSN: | 1640-5544 |
We process personal data collected when visiting the website. The function of obtaining information about users and their behavior is carried out by voluntarily entered information in forms and saving cookies in end devices. Data, including cookies, are used to provide services, improve the user experience and to analyze the traffic in accordance with the Privacy policy. Data are also collected and processed by Google Analytics tool (more).
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
