Pelvic and hip kinematics during single-leg drop-landing are altered in sports participants with long-standing groin pain: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the differences in three-dimensional pelvic and hip kinematics during a single-leg drop-landing task in active sports participants with long-standing groin pain compared to healthy matched controls.

Design: This was a descriptive study incorporating a cross-sectional design.

Setting: The study was conducted at the Unit for Human Movement Analysis, Stellenbosch University, South Africa.

Participants: The study sample was comprised of 20 male club level soccer, rugby, running and cycling participants between the ages of 18 and 55 years. Ten cases with long-standing groin pain and ten asymptomatic matched controls participated.

Main outcome measures: Three-dimensional pelvic and hip kinematics were captured with an optical motion capture system during a single-leg drop-landing task.

Results: Participants with groin pain landed with more downward lateral pelvic tilt (0.77°, p = 0.01, r = 0.35), hip abduction (2.05°, p < 0.001. r = 0.49), and hip external rotation (0.86°, p = 0.03, r = 0.29) at initial contact and more pelvic internal rotation (1.06°, p = 0.02, r = 0.30) at lowest vertical position than the healthy controls.

Conclusions: Sports participants with long-standing groin pain have altered pelvic and hip kinematics during single-leg drop-landing compared to healthy controls. The kinematic differences may contribute towards the persistent nature of groin pain, although these strategies may also be present as a result of the presence or the expectation of pain.

Keywords: Groin pain; Hip; Kinematics; Pelvis.