Risk Factors for Groin Pain in Male High School Soccer Players Undergoing an Injury Prevention Program: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Little is known about the risk factors for developing groin pain in high school soccer players. Therefore, the purpose of the study is to investigate the risk factors for developing inguinal pain in high school soccer players who are undergoing an injury prevention program. A cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted on 202 high school soccer players. Players were allocated to either group A (3 schools, 66 players) receiving the Copenhagen adduction exercise (CAE) alone, or group B (2 schools, 73 players) receiving the CAE and Nordic hamstrings exercise, or group C, the control group without any intervention (2 schools, 63 players). Hip range of motion (ROM) and strength measures were assessed prior to a groin injury prevention program and used in univariate and multivariate analysis to predict development of groin pain. Logistic regression analysis identified that hip abduction ROM and eccentric adductor strength of the dominant leg were factors in the development of groin pain. Increased abduction ROM and decreased eccentric adductor muscle strength of the dominant leg were risk factors for the development of groin pain.