Groin Injuries in Soccer: Investigating the Effect of Age on Adductor Muscle Forces

Abstract

Purpose The sudden rise in the injury incidence during adolescence is also evident in soccer-related injuries to the groin. Submaximal passing applies high stress on the adductor muscles and pubic symphysis and is therefore likely to be connected to the occurrence of groin injuries. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to compare hip joint kinematics and adductor muscle forces of different adolescent age groups during submaximal soccer passing. Methods Sixty participants, in four groups, younger than 12, 15, 16. and 23 yr (U12, U15, U16, U23), were analyzed. A Footbonaut, equipped with a 3D motion capture system consisting of 16 cameras, was used to capture kinematic data of short passes. Inverse dynamic analysis was performed to calculate muscle forces of 10 passes of each subject. Results The U15 group showed reduced angular velocities. A rise in hip adductor muscle forces was evident from the youngest group up to the oldest groups. The largest increase (49%) was found between U12 and U15. Lower-limb mass was identified as the best predictor for the increasing adductor force. Conclusions The reduced angular velocities of the U15 and the increase in muscle forces between all age groups were attributed to the increasing segment masses and length. This increases the moments of inertia of the leg segments thereby demanding higher forces to accelerate the segments. Most likely, the stress put upon the adductors apophyses increases during adolescence, as tendons are known to adapt slower than muscles, increasing the risk for overuse injuries. Coaches could use lower-limb mass as an indicator for fast increases in the force demand to identify players who would benefit from a reduced training volume.

Factors Associated with Hip and Groin Pain in Elite Youth Football Players: A Cohort Study

“…This suggests recent evidence indicating hip adductor and abductor strength remains consistent within a single season found in professional adult male football players [ 28 ] should not be applied to adolescent players. In adolescent players many risk factors appear to be at play, such as maturation rate and possible (pre)pubertal hormonal changes [ 6 , 29 ], historical hip and groin injury, level of play and sport specific training [ 26 ], which highlights the complexity of injury prevention. Regular in-season monitoring and testing of eccentric hip adductor strength has previously been suggested as an effective early detection and management strategy of hip and groin pain in elite football players < 16 years [ 15 ].…”

Association of Skeletal Maturity and Injury Risk in Elite Youth Soccer Players: A 4-Season Prospective Study With Survival Analysis

“…32,34 Changes in hip angular velocities, adductor muscle force, and inertia have been suggested to increase stress on the adductors' apophyses in U-15 soccer players. 20 For Osgood-Schlatter disease, alongside regular sports practice, many intrinsic factors such as height, mass, body mass index, and muscle group tightness have been identified as risk factors. 15,39,52 History of previous osteochondrosis is recognized as a risk factor for subsequent osteochondrosis in a different unfused apophysis, suggesting a probable ethnicity component behind an abnormal response of the endochondral ossification center to certain mechanical stresses.…”

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