Background: Groin/hip injuries are common in the athletic population, particularly in sports

The results support the hypothesis that eccentric training is an effective method of increasing lower limb flexibility. Further research is required to compare the increased flexibility obtained after eccentric training to that obtained with static stretching and other exercise interventions.

Background Reduced flexibility has been documented in athletes with lower limb injury, however stretching has limited evidence of effectiveness in preventing injury or reducing the risk of recurrence. In contrast, it has been proposed that eccentric training can not only improve strength and reduce the risk of injury, but also facilitate increased muscle flexibility via sarcomerogenesis. Objective This systematic review was undertaken to examine the evidence that eccentric training has demonstrated effectiveness as a means of improving lower limb flexibility. Design Systematic Review. 6 electronic databases were systematically searched by two independent reviewers to identify randomised clinical trials comparing the effectiveness of eccentric training to either a different intervention, or a no-intervention control group. Studies evaluating flexibility using both joint range of motion (ROM) and muscle fascicle length (FL) were included. 6 studies met the inclusion/exclusion criteria, and were appraised using the PEDro scale. Differences in the muscles studied, and the outcome measures used, did not allow for pooled data analysis. Results There was consistent, strong evidence from all six trials in three different muscle groups that eccentric training can improve lower limb flexibility, as assessed using either joint ROM or muscle FL. Conclusions The results support the hypothesis that eccentric training is an effective method of increasing lower limb flexibility. Therefore eccentric training is associated with improved flexibility, and not only with gains in strength, performance and injury reduction. Further research is required to compare the increased flexibility obtained after eccentric training to that obtained with static stretching and other exercise interventions.

BackgroundGroin/Hip injuries are among the top 6 most commonly cited injuries in Rugby Union (RU). These injuries have increased significantly since 2002 moving from 16th to 4th place in the most common training injuries in 2012 RU annual audit.ObjectiveTo identify intrinsic risk factors for groin/hip injuries in an academy level RU population.DesignProspective cohort study design. Players were tested pre,mid and end season by primary investigator (PI) with team physiotherapists collecting injury data.SettingTesting was carried out in University of Limerick and two Irish RU provincial training grounds.Participants43 players were recruited using dissemination of information leaflets and objective discussion. Inclusion criteria: Academy level RU players from 2011/2012 provincial teams, over 18 years of age, fluent in English with written consent. Exclusion criteria: Injured or non-consenting players.Risk factor assessmentHip adductor squeeze strength, hip abductor/adductor isometric strength, passive and active internal/external hip rotation ROM, hip abduction ROM, adductor flexibility, groin palpation and quality of single leg squat were examined. Anthropometric data was collected using questionnaires. Team physiotherapists recorded injuries using OSCIS grading system. Hypothesis was formulated prior to testing.ResultsIncidence of groin/hip injuries was 21%. Non-modifiable risk factors identified were previous injury and smaller player height. Modifiable risk factors identified included; lower isometric squeeze strength, reduced dominant leg and bilateral mean adductor flexibility, greater dominant and non-dominant hip internal rotation ROM and positive tenderness of adductor origin musculature.ConclusionsThis study succeeded its objective. This is of significant importance clinically due to high injury incidence leading to missed training/matches and associated costs. Future research should call on the rugby community to implement these identified risk factors in the development of a screening tool for groin/hip injuries and examine its efficiency at reducing the incidence of injury thus taking the next step in groin/hip injury prevention.