Hip Injury
Conditions
Brief summary
Hip and groin injuries affect approximately 21% of professional athletes annually, causing significant time loss. As roughly 48% of these cases result from non-contact mechanisms, they are potentially preventable through optimized diagnostic screening. Evidence strongly links restricted hip range of motion (ROM) and strength deficits to an increased injury risk. This project aims to (1) develop a rigorously validated diagnostic testing procedure by comparing different joint positions, movement velocities, and muscle contractions to establish a preventive "gold standard" screening battery. dditionally, (2) pilot targeted prevention interventions over a competitive season. Using a crossover design, the research evaluates three protocols: Strength-focused,Flexibility-focused:and control group. (3) Implement of a Centralized Injury Reporting System. Combining comprehensive diagnostic screening with these practical interventions will yield a powerful tool for clinicians and coaches to effectively reduce the incidence and burden of non-contact hip and groin injuries
Interventions
OTHERStrength-focused
Emphasizing specific joint stabilization and eccentric load tolerance, heavily utilizing the Copenhagen Adductor Exercise.
OTHERFlexibility-focused
Targeting functional hip ROM through stretching and dynamic mobility under load.
Sponsors
Charles University, Czech Republic
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
SCREENING
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
14 Years to 20 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Male or female competitive team sports. * Registered members of participating team sports. * Age 14 to 20 years. * Participation in regular team training and competition during the study period. * Medically cleared for full participation in training and match play at study entry. * Willing and able to complete preseason testing and the assigned intervention program. * Provided written informed consent. For participants younger than 18 years, parent or legal guardian consent will also be obtained.
Exclusion criteria
* Current hip or groin injury causing time loss or restricting full participation in training or competition at baseline. * Lower extremity or lumbar spine injury at baseline that limits safe participation in testing or intervention exercises. * Surgery involving the hip, groin, pelvis, lumbar spine, or lower extremity within the previous 6 months. * Any neurological, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, or other medical condition that would contraindicate participation in the intervention or testing procedures. * Inability to complete baseline assessments. * Planned absence during a substantial part of the preseason intervention period or competitive season. * Noncompliance with study procedures or refusal to provide consent.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Hip and Groin Injury Incidence During the Competitive Season | Through the competitive season, up to 9 months | The number of new hip and groin injuries occurring during the monitored competitive season among athletes participating in the different preseason intervention programs. Injury incidence will be recorded by team medical staff and expressed as the number of injuries per 1000 athlete-exposures. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Hip and Groin Injury Severity | Through the competitive season, up to 9 months | Severity of hip and groin injuries assessed as the number of days lost from training or competition following injury. |
| Hip and Groin Injury Burden | Through the competitive season, up to 9 months | Overall injury burden calculated as the product of injury incidence and injury severity across the study period. |
| Change in Hip Range of Motion (ROM) | Baseline (Day 1, preseason screening) and 8 weeks (end of preseason intervention) | Passive hip range of motion assessed using standardized clinical ROM testing (Bent Knee Fall-Out test and passive hip flexion/abduction assessments) with a digital inclinometer. |
| Functional Lower Limb Performance | Baseline (preseason) and post-intervention (end of preseason) | Functional performance of the lower extremity assessed through a standardized testing battery evaluating strength, mobility, and sport-specific functional performance. |
| Hip Adduction and Abduction Strength | Baseline (Day 1, preseason screening) and 8 weeks (end of preseason intervention) | Hip adduction and abduction peak torque measured using isokinetic dynamometry (Humac Norm or Biodex system) during concentric and eccentric contractions at standardized angular velocities (30°/s, 120°/s). |
| Isometric Hip Strength | Baseline (Day 1, preseason screening) and 8 weeks (end of preseason intervention) | Isometric hip adduction strength measured using hand-held dynamometry (HHD) squeeze tests and fixed dynamometry systems such as ForceFrame/GroinBar at joint angles of 0°, 25°, and 50° hip abduction. |
Contacts
CONTACTAnna Pisz, PT, PhD
Outcome results
None listed