Adductor Strengthening Programme Reduces Groin Injuries in Football Players

Introduction:

Groin injuries are common in male football players, with adductor-related injuries accounting for two-thirds of cases. A recent study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a single-exercise approach to adductor strengthening in reducing groin injuries in football players.

Methods/Intervention:

35 semi-professional Norwegian football teams were cluster-randomised into an intervention group (18 teams, 339 players) and a control group (17 teams, 313 players). The intervention group performed the Adductor Strengthening Programme (ASP) using one exercise with three progression levels, three times per week during preseason and once per week during the competitive season. The control group trained as normal. Compliance was based on self-reported number of completed sessions.

Results:

The average weekly prevalence of groin problems during the competitive season was 13.5% in the intervention group and 21.3% in the control group. The risk of reporting groin problems during the competitive season was 41% lower in the intervention group in the intention-to-treat analysis and 47% in the per-protocol analysis. Compliance with the ASP was higher in this study compared to others.

Clinical Takeaways:

• The ASP can reduce the incidence of adductor injuries in-season.
• Adductor injuries are common and cause significant time away from sport.
• The ASP is simple, low harm, and easy to implement.
• Athletes in other sports with similar movement patterns may also benefit from the ASP.
• Consider implementing the ASP in-season to reduce adductor injuries in athletes.
• Encourage athletes to perform the ASP regularly to improve hip adduction strength and reduce the risk of groin problems.
• Educate athletes in other sports with similar movement patterns about the benefits of the ASP to reduce the risk of adductor injuries.

In conclusion,

the Adductor Strengthening Programme is an effective intervention for reducing groin injuries in football players. Compliance with the programme was high in this study, which may have contributed to lower injury rates in the intervention group. Clinicians should consider implementing the ASP in-season and educating athletes in other sports about its benefits to reduce the risk of adductor injuries.