Hip adductor muscle strength is reduced preceding and during the onset of groin pain in elite junior Australian football players.

Groin pain is a condition with a high prevalence in young Australian football players. It is considered that early identification of this condition allows for optimal management. Eighty-six players from two elite under-age Australian football sides were screened weekly for hip adductor muscle strength, using a hand-held dynamometer and for the onset of groin pain. The maximum variation in the average hip adductor muscle strength values of the sample was a 2.6% decrease from baseline in week 7 of the study. Twelve players (14% of the sample studied) reported groin pain for two consecutive weeks and were considered to have an onset of groin injury. The mean hip adductor muscle strength of these players was decreased significantly from baseline by an average of 11.75+/-2.50% at the week of pain onset (F=264.76 (1,11), p<0.001), and 5.82+/-5.16% in the week preceding the onset of pain (F=14.03 (1,10), p=0.004). These results confirm that hip adductor muscle strength is decreased both preceding and during the onset of groin injury in elite under-age Australian footballers.

Prevention and management of osteitis pubis in the Australian Football League: a qualitative analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To examine current practices and develop a set of recommendations for the management of osteitis pubis in the Australian Football League (AFL). DESIGN: A qualitative study using in-depth interviews to gather data and thematic coding to analyze findings. SETTING: Participants were interviewed in their workplace or at a convenient meeting point. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-six medical and fitness staff from the 16 AFL clubs. RESULTS: Respondents from all clubs viewed osteitis pubis as an overuse injury and recognized that the key to prevention is balancing pelvic integrity and load. Osteitis pubis was described as the end result of a continuum of groin pathology, and recognition of predisposing factors and early detection were identified as the key elements of optimal management. Management strategies included rest, training modification, cross-training, correction of predisposing factors, physical therapy and a progression back to competition. Most clubs also conduct generic prevention and education programs. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, respondents perceived that awareness and management of osteitis pubis is currently at a high level in the AFL. Management of osteitis pubis requires the balancing of pelvic integrity and mechanical load through the pelvis and the early identification of warning signs.