RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 EMG evaluation of hip adduction exercises for soccer players: implications for exercise selection in prevention and treatment of groin injuries
JF British Journal of Sports Medicine
JO Br J Sports Med
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine
SP 1108
OP 1114
DO 10.1136/bjsports-2012-091746
VO 48
IS 14
A1 Serner, Andreas
A1 Jakobsen, Markus Due
A1 Andersen, Lars Louis
A1 Hölmich, Per
A1 Sundstrup, Emil
A1 Thorborg, Kristian
YR 2014
UL http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/48/14/1108.abstract
AB Introduction Exercise programmes are used in the prevention and treatment of adductor-related groin injuries in soccer; however, there is a lack of knowledge concerning the intensity of frequently used exercises. Objective Primarily to investigate muscle activity of adductor longus during six traditional and two new hip adduction exercises. Additionally, to analyse muscle activation of gluteals and abdominals. Materials and methods 40 healthy male elite soccer players, training >5 h a week, participated in the study. Muscle activity using surface electromyography (sEMG) was measured bilaterally for the adductor longus during eight hip adduction strengthening exercises and peak EMG was normalised (nEMG) using an isometric maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) as reference. Furthermore, muscle activation of the gluteus medius, rectus abdominis and the external abdominal obliques was analysed during the exercises. Results There were large differences in peak nEMG of the adductor longus between the exercises, with values ranging from 14% to 108% nEMG (p<0.0001). There was a significant difference between legs in three of the eight exercises (35–48%, p<0.0001). The peak nEMG results for the gluteals and the abdominals showed relatively low values (5–48% nEMG, p<0.001). Conclusions Specific hip adduction exercises can be graded by exercise intensity providing athletes and therapists with the knowledge to select appropriate exercises during different phases of prevention and treatment of groin injuries. The Copenhagen Adduction and the hip adduction with an elastic band are dynamic high-intensity exercises, which can easily be performed at any training facility and could therefore be relevant to include in future prevention and treatment programmes.