The Characteristic of Dynamic Balance Ability and Hip Flexibility in Soccer Players with a History of the Groin Pain: A Preliminary Study

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristic of hip flexibility and dynamic balance ability in the soccer players with the groin pain. The study consisted 17 male college soccer players. All participants were divided into the Groin Pain (GP) group and non-GP group, according to a history of the groin pain. Hip passive Range of Motion (ROM) test and the modified Star Excursion Balance Test (mSEBT) was conducted in all participants. The Mann–Whitney U test or Student’s t-test was selected to identify differences in hip ROMs and results of the mSEBT in kicking keg and supporting leg between groups. Hip abduction angle of kicking leg in the GS group were smaller than that in the non-GS group in the kicking leg (p < 0.05). There were no differences in other hip ROMs between groups (p > 0.05). There was no difference in results of the mSEBT between groups in both legs (p > 0.05). Our results were newly revealed that soccer players with the groin pain had poor hip abduction range of motion in comparison with those without the groin pain. This finding suggested that a poor hip abductor range of motion may affect the kicking biomechanics in soccer players with the groin pain.