The Effectiveness of a Preseason Exercise Program to Prevent Adductor Muscle Strains in Professional Ice Hockey Players

Abstract

A therapeutic intervention of strengthening the adductor muscle group appears to be an effective method for preventing adductor strains in professional ice hockey players.

Electromyographic Analysis of Core Trunk, Hip, and Thigh Muscles During 9 Rehabilitation Exercises

“…6,31,52 Weakness and poor endurance of the lumbar extensor, gluteus maximus, and hip external rotator muscles have also been noted in individuals with lower extremity injuries and low back pain. 9,28,31,32,36,39 Leetun et al 31 found that athletes who were not injured had stronger hip abductor and external rotator muscles.…”

Rehabilitation and Return to Activity Following Sports Hernia Surgery

“…In addition, overlapping diagnoses can also skew the exact incidence. Groin strains are among the most common injuries seen in ice hockey players [13][14][15]. It has been documented that groin strains accounted for 10 % of all injuries in elite Swedish ice hockey players [16].…”

“…Now that the researchers can identify players at risk for a future adductor strain, the next step is to design an intervention program to address all risk factors. Tyler et al [13] were able to demonstrate that a therapeutic intervention of strengthening the adductor muscle group could be an effective method for preventing adductor strains in professional ice hockey players. Prior to the 2000 and 2001 seasons, professional ice hockey players were tested for strength.…”

Hip and Groin Pain: Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Issues

“…A ratio of 95% adductor to abductor strength was shown in injured National Hockey League (NHL) players compared with a ratio of 78% in injured players [43]. A prevention programme consisting of a warm up, adductor strengthening and sports specific training, with a minimum goal of 80% adductor to abductor strength, reduced the incidence of adductor strains from 8% to 2% compared with the previous 2 seasons [43]. The Adductor Muscle Strain injury prevention programme is shown in Table 4.…”