title: Effect of motor control training on hip muscles in elite football players with and without low back pain.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Previous research has shown that motor control training improved size and function of trunk muscles in elite football players with and without low back pain (LBP). Imbalances in hip muscles have been found in athletes with LBP and it is not known if motor control training can change these muscles. This study investigated if a motor control intervention program affected hip muscle size in elite football players with and without LBP.
  
  
  METHODS
  Panel-randomised intervention design.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-six players from one club in the Australian Football League (AFL) participated in a motor control training program delivered across the season as a stepped-wedge intervention design with 3 treatment arms: 15 weeks intervention, 8 weeks intervention and a wait-list control who received 7 weeks intervention toward the end of the playing season. Presence of LBP was assessed by interview and physical examination. Cross-sectional areas of iliacus, psoas, iliopsoas, sartorius, gluteus minimus, and gluteus medius muscles were measured from magnetic resonance images taken at 3 time points during the season.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Iliopsoas, sartorius and gluteus medius muscle size increased for players who received intervention (p<0.05). For players with current LBP, sartorius and gluteus medius muscle size increased for those who received motor control training (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Motor control training programs aimed at the lumbo-pelvic region also benefit the hip muscles. For players with current LBP, the intervention mitigated sartorius muscle atrophy and increased gluteus medius muscle size. These findings may help guide the management of LBP in elite football players.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, Mary Mackillop Institute for Health Research, Australia; Physiotherapy Department, Mater Health Services, Australia. Electronic address: dilani.mendis@acu.edu.au.
authors.forename: M Dilani
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Mendis
authors.affiliation: Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, Mary Mackillop Institute for Health Research, Australia; Mater/ACU Back Stability Research Clinic, Mater Health Services, Australia.
authors.forename: Julie A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hides
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D002081:Buttocks / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005538:Football / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D009929:Organ Size; D016658:Psoas Muscles / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Exercise; Gluteus medius muscle; Iliopsoas muscle; Intervention study; Magnetic resonance imaging; Ultrasound imaging