Hip Strength Profiling of Ice Hockey Athletes Across Various Joint-Specific Angles: Monitoring and Injury Implications

Abstract

Secomb, JL, Kelly, M, and Dascombe, BJ. Hip strength profiling of ice hockey athletes across various joint-specific angles: monitoring and injury implications. J Strength Cond Res 37(7): e422–e429, 2023—The purpose of this research was to compare the hip adduction and abduction relative strength, adduction-to-abduction strength ratio (ADD:ABD), and interlimb asymmetries of ice hockey athletes between the typically used bilateral position and 3 unilateral positions in joint-specific angles (0°, 25°, and 50° of hip abduction) relevant to an ice hockey stride. A secondary purpose was to explore any relationships between these measures and hip and groin noncontact injuries, and self-reported pain and disability. Twenty-five semiprofessional male ice hockey athletes (26.7 ± 6.7 years) were assessed for hip abduction range of motion (ROM), hip adduction and abduction relative strength, and completed the Copenhagen Hip and Groin Outcome Score (HAGOS) questionnaire. Within-subjects repeated-measures analysis of variance revealed a significant effect for the assessment position for adduction (F1,24 = 52.4, p < 0.01) and abduction relative strength (F1,24 = 152.1, p < 0.01), ADD:ABD (F1,24 = 38.9, p < 0.01), and the interlimb asymmetries for each of these variables (F1,24 = 9.8–12.3; p < 0.01), with large strength differences observed between the bilateral assessment and all unilateral assessment positions for adduction and abduction relative strength. In addition, 4 athletes experienced a noncontact hip or groin injury within 1 month after testing, and when compared with the rest of the cohort (n = 21) with Welch's t-tests, demonstrated significantly reduced hip abduction ROM (mean difference [MD] = −8.4 ± 2.5°; p < 0.01), sport subscale score for the HAGOS questionnaire (MD = −33.9 ± 7.1; p < 0.01), and a decline in hip adduction relative strength in the unilateral position of 50° compared with the position of 25° hip abduction (MD = −13.4 ± 3.8; p = 0.04). These results suggest that practitioners working with ice hockey athletes may benefit from profiling hip strength in these unilateral joint-specific angle positions because they provide an evidence base to determine the hip strength needs of ice hockey athletes in positions associated with skating performance and noncontact hip and groin injury mechanisms (between 25° and 50° of hip abduction).

Associations Between Hip Pathology, Hip and Groin Pain, and Injuries in Hockey Athletes: A Clinical Commentary

“…81 Therefore, the reduced hip strength and muscle strength imbalances associated with cam morphology, intra-articular hip injuries, and the presence of hip and groin pain may increase the opportunity of adductor injuries in hockey athletes. 1,87,96 Importantly, Suits et al 97 recently identified that hip total rotation ROM, adductor strength and the adduction to abduction strength ratio was significantly reduced following a single on-ice training session. Therefore, with the presence of fatigue or RA-adductor dysfunction there may be a reduced ability to withstand the substantial loads experienced during forward sprint skating and change-of-direction efforts.…”

“…87 Additionally, preseason adductor injuries in semi-professional hockey athletes have been associated with lower hip abduction ROM and a greater magnitude of decline in adductor strength at a joint-angle position of 50° of hip abduction compared to a position of 25° of hip abduction, when compared to an uninjured cohort. 96 Due to the trunk position required to maintain equilibrium during change-of-direction efforts while skating, it is theorized that this increases the eccentric load on the pubic symphysis and adductor muscles. 81 Therefore, the reduced hip strength and muscle strength imbalances associated with cam morphology, intra-articular hip injuries, and the presence of hip and groin pain may increase the opportunity of adductor injuries in hockey athletes.…”

On-ice and Field Performance Characteristics of Ice-hockey Players: Focusing on the Relation with Patient-reported Outcome

“…연구참여자 특성 Baranto et al, 2009;Bracko, 2001;Bracko & George, 2001;Buchheit et al, 2011;Farlinger et al, 2007) (Potteiger et al, 2010;Secomb et al, 2022). 또한, 본 연구와는 다르게 하지 근력이 아닌 상지의 근력에 집중하여 검사한 연구도 존 재한다 (Kniffin et al, 2017;Skovereng et al, 2013) Performance and Subjective-function…”

Effect of training effort on neuromuscular control, static balance and muscle mechanical properties in ice hockey players

“…The physical demands of ice hockey suggest that injuries to the lower and upper extremities may be common [13]. This results, among others, from the dominance of the body side holding the stick and numerous changes in the direction of movement or sudden stops [14].…”