Adductor Endurance Test: Validity and Reliability

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

Hip Adductor Endurance and Strength Testing: Participants will perform the Hip Adductor Endurance Test to assess adductor muscle endurance, followed by isometric maximum force assessment using the fixed dynamometer (GroinBar) . Tests are conducted in randomized order before routine training sessions, after a 5-minute light aerobic warm-up and dynamic stretching

Study summary

Groin and hip injuries are common in team sports-especially soccer, rugby, and ice hockey-and frequently affect male and young athletes. About 14% of all sports injuries involve the groin and hip region, with most related to the adductor muscles. These injuries often increase during congested match periods and may result in athletes missing 1 to 6.9 weeks of training or competition, extending up to 14 weeks when surgery is required. Weakness in the adductor muscles is a key risk factor for groin injuries, and current assessments primarily measure maximal strength using tools such as squeeze tests, sphygmomanometers, or dynamometers. However, muscle endurance-critical because many injuries occur under fatigue-has not been adequately studied, and no validated endurance tests for the hip adductors exist. This study aims to evaluate the validity and reliability of a newly developed hip adductor endurance test for monitoring endurance strength in professional soccer players.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• Pain Assessment — baseline
  Pain felt during the adductor squeeze test and adductor palpation test, which are applied for inclusion/exclusion criteria, will be assessed using the Numerical Pain Rating Scale. The patient will be asked to mark the level of pain they feel on a 10 cm line, and the marked location will then be measured with a ruler and recorded.
• Evaluation of Maximum Isometric Muscle Strength of the Hip Adductor Muscles — baseline
  Hip adductor strength of both lower extremities will be assessed simultaneously using the GroinBar fixed dynamometer (VALD Performance, Australia), a highly reliable method (ICC=0.94). Strength will be measured in two positions: short lever arm (hips 60°, knees 90° flexed, force applied at medial knee epicondyles) and long lever arm (hips and knees extended, force applied 5 cm proximal to medial malleoli). Athletes perform three 5-second maximal isometric contractions per position, with 5-10 seconds rest between repetitions and 20-30 seconds between positions. A trial at 80% of maximal effort is allowed before measurement. Verbal encouragement is provided, and the highest values in Newtons (N) for both dominant and non-dominant legs are recorded; strength ratios are subsequently calculated.
• Hip Adductor Endurance Test — baseline
  Hip adductor endurance will be assessed using a time-based version of the Copenhagen Adduction Exercise, which elicits high adductor activation. Participants lie on their side, lift their body concentrically, hold the isometric position as long as possible, and lower eccentrically. The test focuses on maintaining correct alignment and endurance duration rather than maximal force, converting the Copenhagen exercise into an endurance assessment protocol.

Trial sites (1)

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