Delayed onset of transversus abdominus in long-standing groin pain.
Long-standing groin pain is a persistent problem that is commonly difficult to rehabilitate. Theoretical rationale indicates a relationship between the motor control of the pelvis and long-standing groin pain; however, this link has not been investigated.


OBJECTIVE
The current experiment aimed to evaluate motor control of the abdominal muscles in a group of Australian football players with and without long-standing groin pain.


METHODS
Ten participants with long-standing groin pain and 12 asymptomatic controls were recruited for the study. Participants were elite or subelite Australian football players. Fine-wire and surface electromyography electrodes were used to record the activity of the selected abdominal and leg muscles during a visual choice reaction-time task (active straight leg raising).


RESULTS
When the asymptomatic controls completed the active straight leg raise (ASLR) task, the transversus abdominus contracted in a feed-forward manner. However, when individuals with long-standing groin pain completed the ASLR task, the onset of transversus abdominus was delayed (P < 0.05) compared with the control group. There were no differences between groups for the onset of activity of internal oblique, external oblique, and rectus abdominus (all P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The finding that the onset of transversus abdominus is delayed in individuals with long-standing groin pain is important, as it demonstrates an association between long-standing groin pain and transversus abdominus activation.
Cowan
Sallie M
SM
The Centre for Sports Medicine and Research and Education, School of Physiotherapy, The University of Melbourne, 200 Berkeley St., Carlton, Vix, 3010, Australia. s.cowan@unimelb.edu.au
Schache
Anthony G
AG
Brukner
Peter
P
Bennell
Kim L
KL
Hodges
Paul W
PW
Coburn
Paul
P
Crossley
Kay M
KM
D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004576:Electromyography; D006119:Groin / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D010146:Pain / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010388:Pelvis / Q000502:physiology*; D012916:Soccer / Q000293:injuries*