BACKGROUND: Soccer players with weak hip-adductor muscles are at increased risk of sustaining groin injuries. Therefore, a simple hip-adductor strengthening programme for prevention of groin injuries is needed. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the effect of an 8-week hip-adductor strengthening programme, including one hip-adduction exercise, on eccentric and isometric hip-adduction strength, using elastic bands as external load. METHODS: Thirty-four healthy, sub-elite soccer players, mean (+/- SD) age of 22.1 (+/- 3.3) years, were randomised to either training or control. During the mid-season break, the training group performed 8 weeks of supervised, progressive hip-adduction strength training using elastic bands. The participants performed two training sessions per week (weeks 1 to 2) with 3x15 repetition maximum loading (RM), three training sessions per week (weeks 3 to 6) with 3x10 RM and three training sessions per week (weeks 7 to 8) with 3x8 RM. Eccentric hip-adduction (EHAD), isometric hip-adduction (IHAD) and isometric hip-abduction (IHAB) strength, and the IHAD/IHAB ratio were measured assessor-blinded preintervention and postintervention, using reliable hand-held dynamometry procedures. RESULTS: In the training group, EHAD strength increased by 30% (p < 0.001). In the control group, EHAD strength increased by 17% (p < 0.001), but the increase was significantly larger in the training group compared with the control group (p = 0.044). No other significant between-group strength-differences in IHAD, IHAB or the IHAD/IHAB ratio existed (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: 8 weeks of hip-adduction strength training, using elastic bands, induce a relevant increase in eccentric hip-adduction strength in soccer players, and thus may have implications as a promising approach towards prevention of groin injuries in soccer.
Reproduced with permission from the BMJ Publishing Group.

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