The effects of football match congestion in an international tournament on hip adductor squeeze strength and pain in elite youth players |
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| Authors: | Martin Wollin Tania Pizzari Kane Spagnolo Marijke Welvaert Kristian Thorborg |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Physical Therapies, Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra, Australia;2. La Trobe Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Centre, La Trobe University, Victoria, Australia;3. La Trobe Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Centre, La Trobe University, Victoria, Australia;4. Research Institute for Sport and Exercise, University of Canberra, Canberra, Australia;5. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sports Orthopaedic Research Center (SORC-C), Amager-Hvidovre Hospital, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark;6. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation – Copenhagen (PMR-C), Amager-Hvidovre Hospital, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark |
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| Abstract: | The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a congested international tournament match schedule on adductor strength and pain in elite youth football players. Twenty-two male players (age: 15.53 ± 0.48 years, height: 174.87 ± 7.59 cm, weight: 67.45 ± 7.40 kg) were included. The 5-second adductor squeeze strength was captured daily using a hand-held dynamometer during a 7-game international tournament. Pain during the squeeze test was recorded using numerical pain ratings (0–10) to quantify groin pain. Sessional rate of perceived exertion (sRPE) was collected during the tournament. Adductor strength changed significantly during the tournament in relation to time (F(14,294.94) = 1.89, p = 0.027) and cumulative sRPE (F(1,314) = 5.59, p = 0.019). Cumulative sRPE displayed a negative relationship with strength (B = ?0.008, SE = 0.0032, 95%CI = ?0.014,-0.002). The results indicate that for every 100 match sRPE arbitrary units the squeeze peak force reduced by 0.8N. Sixteen (72.7%) players demonstrated clinically meaningful strength reductions (>15%) during the tournament. Match congestion impacts on hip adductor squeeze strength in male youth football players. A negative relationship between match sRPE and adductor strength exists. Player monitoring involving the 5-second adductor squeeze test can be captured effectively and is suitable to include as part of secondary injury prevention during or immediately after a congested tournament. |
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| Keywords: | Soccer groin monitoring injury prevention |
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