The ability of athletes with long-standing groin pain to maintain a stable lumbopelvic position: A laboratory study.
OBJECTIVE
The ability to maintain a lumbopelvic position (LPP) was assessed in athletes with a history of long-standing groin pain (LSGP) and athletes without LSGP.


METHODS
Case-control study.


METHODS
University motion analysis laboratory.


METHODS
Thirty male athletes-15 with a history of LSGP (>12 weeks) and 15 without.


METHODS
Maintenance of LPP was assessed using a pressure biofeedback unit (PBU) during supine single leg lift (SLL), single leg extension (SLE) and bent knee fallout (BKFO). Repeatability was assessed using intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) and group differences analysed using MANOVA.


RESULTS
Differences were detected between involved and uninvolved sides in the LSGP group during SLL (mean difference [md] = 9.82 mmHg, p < 0.01) and BKFO (md = 8.56 mmHg, p < 0.01) but not during SLE (md = 0.38 mmHg, p = 0.96). Between group differences were found during the SLL of the involved leg (md = 5.22 mmHg p = 0.034) and the BKFO of the uninvolved leg (md = 6.22 mmHg p = 0.017). Inter-session reliability varied for the different movement tasks in both groups (ICC = 0.35-0.94).


CONCLUSIONS
Ability to maintain LPP differed between the involved and uninvolved legs within the LSGP group and between the athletes with and without LSGP. Despite resolution of groin pain, altered control of lumbopelvic position existed with possible implications for later injury recurrence.
University College Dublin School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland; UCD Institute for Sport and Health, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland. Electronic address: ulrik.mccarthypersson@ucd.ie.
Ulrik
U
McCarthy Persson
Department of Science and Health, Institute of Technology, Carlow, Ireland. Electronic address: reosullivan@gmail.com.
Rebecca M
RM
O'Sullivan
Sports and Exercise Medicine, William Harvey Research Institute, Bart's and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, UK; Physiotherapy Department, Bart's Health NHS Trust, London, UK. Electronic address: d.morrissey@qmul.ac.uk.
Dylan
D
Morrissey
Department of Science and Health, Institute of Technology, Carlow, Ireland. Electronic address: wallacej@itcarlow.ie.
Jennifer
J
Wallace
D056352:Athletes; D001676:Biofeedback, Psychology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005080:Exercise Test; D006119:Groin / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008161:Lumbosacral Region / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D055815:Young Adult
Chronic; Cross-sectional study; Groin; Pressure biofeedback unit