Sub-elite football players with hip-related groin pain and a positive flexion, adduction, and internal rotation test exhibit distinct biomechanical differences compared with the asymptomatic side

BACKGROUND: Hip-related groin pain is common in sub-elite football players and may be associated with altered hip biomechanics. OBJECTIVES: To compare the hip biomechanics, bony hip morphology associated with femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) syndrome, and hip strength and range of motion (ROM) between the symptomatic and asymptomatic limbs of sub-elite football players with unilateral hip-related groin pain and a positive flexion, adduction, and internal rotation (FADIR) test. METHODS: Fifteen sub-elite football (soccer) players with unilateral hip-related groin pain and a positive FADIR test were recruited for this obser-vational cross-sectional study. Three-dimensional motion analysis and ground reaction force data were recorded for walking and a single-leg drop-jump (SLDJ) task. Participants also underwent a standard anterior-posterior hip radiograph and hip strength and ROM assessment. Between-limb differences were assessed using paired t tests or Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. RESULTS: The symptomatic limb displayed a smaller peak hip extension angle (P = .01) and a lower peak hip adduction moment (P = .03) compared with the asymptomatic limb during the stance phase of walking. Additionally, during the SLDJ, the symptomatic limb demonstrated less total sagittal plane ROM (P = .04). The symptomatic limb also demonstrated less external rotation ROM (P = .03). However, no differences were found between limbs for bony hip morphology associated with FAI syndrome or hip strength. CONCLUSION: This study found between-limb asymmetries in low-and high-impact functional tasks, such as walking and an SLDJ, in football players with unilateral hip-related groin pain. Despite unilateral pain, bony morphology associated with FAI syndrome did not differ between limbs.

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