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Isometric vs Dynamic Copenhagen Adduction Exercise in Football Players

Effects of a Dynamic Versus an Isometric Copenhagen Adduction Exercise on Muscle Strength and Athletic Performance in Youth Football: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Status
Completed
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT07314671
Enrollment
42
Registered
2026-01-02
Start date
2025-01-10
Completion date
2025-05-01
Last updated
2026-05-19

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Groin Injuries

Keywords

Groin, exercise training, Copenhagen Adduction, football

Brief summary

Hip adductor strength training is important for groin injuries rehabilitation and prevention. A widely used exercise is the Copenhagen Adduction (CA) exercise. The current study will include young football players (12-16 yrs) individually randomised into two CA groups (isometric, dynamic) training 2 times per week for 6 weeks. Both groups will use 2 sets per side and a range of 6-12 repetitions. Maximal eccentric (EHAD) and isometric (IHAD) hip adduction torque, jump and sprint capacity, delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), and perceived exertion will be recorded. A minimum of 42 participants will be required.

Detailed description

Introduction: Groin injuries are one of the most common injuries in sports such as basketball, hockey and handball. They account for 4-19% of all injuries in Association football (soccer), with movements such as shooting or passing, changes of direction, and jumping being the most common injury mechanisms. Previous groin injury and low hip adductor strength have been shown to be risk factors for groin injuries. Exercise has shown a positive effect on adductor muscle strength, groin pain rehabilitation, and prevention. An exercise widely used in adductor strength training and groin pain rehabilitation is the Copenhagen Adduction (CA) exercise. Another exercise used in groin pain rehabilitation and adductor strength training is the adductor squeeze exercise. Although there are investigations comparing the strength effects of the CA with these of other dynamic exercises, and isometric exercises, there is only one study that included the CA using isometric contraction during a progressive training protocol for the hip adductor muscles, and no studies comparing two contraction types of the CA. Although muscle strengthening is an important component in football training, sprint and jump training also plays an important role in athletes' performance. There is only one study which evaluated the effects of the CA and Nordic Hamstring exercise on athletic performance. Aim: To compare the effects of a dynamic and an isometric CA on adductor muscle strength and athletic performance (sprint, jump) in male football (soccer) players. Methods: Young football players (12-16 yrs) will be included in the study. They will be individually randomised into two CA groups (isometric, dynamic) and will train 2 times per week for six weeks using 2 sets per side and a range of 6-12 repetitions maintaining the same repetition number and time under tension. The strength and athletic performance testing will be performed by a physiotherapist and an exercise therapist, respectively. They will not participate in the intervention supervision and will be unaware of the group allocation. The physiotherapist and the exercise therapist who will supervise the intervention, as well as the participants, will not be aware of the testing results until the completion of the study.

Interventions

OTHERExercise

Both groups (DCA, ICA) will perform 2 weekly sessions, 2 sets per side, 6-12 repetitions

Sponsors

University of West Attica
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
OTHER
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Outcomes Assessor)

Intervention model description

The participants will be assigned to either a dynamic (DCA) or an isometric (ICA) Copenhagen Adduction exercise group and perform a progressive exercise protocol for 6 weeks during at the club's training facilities.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
MALE
Age
12 Years to 16 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

Healthy male soccer players between 12 and 16 years old systematically (≥4 times per week) participating in training and games

Exclusion criteria

1. musculoskeletal injury and/or neurological disorder that would affect strength and/or athletic performance testing, and/or exercise execution. 2. adductor muscle injury within 6 months before study initiation. 3. groin pain greater than 2/10 on a Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) during strength and/or athletic performance testing, and/or during exercise execution. 4. any systematic strength training of the adductor muscles during the last month prior to study initiation.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Eccentric hip adductor torqueFrom enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 weeksMaximal eccentric (EHAD) hip adduction torque. Players' strength will be measured in Newtons, leg length in centimeters, and weight in kilograms. These measures will be combined for eccentric torque (Nm/kg) to be recorded and analysed.
Isometric hip adduction torqueFrom enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 weeksMaximal isometric (IHAD) hip adduction torque. Players' strength will be measured in Newtons, leg length in centimeters, and weight in kilograms. These measures will be combined for isometric torque (Nm/kg) to be recorded and analysed.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Jump performanceFrom enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 weeksJump (squat jump, countermovement jump, countermovement jump with arm swing) capacity will be measured in centimetres.
Sprint capacityFrom enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 weeksSprint (5 meters, 10 meters, 20 meters) capacity will be measured in seconds.
Delayed onset muscle sorenessFrom enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 weeksDelayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) will be recorded with the use of a numeric rating scale 0-10.
Perceived exertionFrom enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 weeksPerceived exertion will be recorded with the use of a numeric rating scale 0-10.

Countries

Greece

Contacts

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORChristos Pippas

University of West Attica

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: May 20, 2026