The relationship of hip adductor and abductor muscle force ratio and sports performance parameters in football players

Due to the nature of football, movements such as sudden changes of direction and fast sprints require excessive use of the hip adductor and abductor muscles. The strength ratios of this muscle group are likely to be associated with both performance and overall body injury risks in athletes. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate whether the hip adduction/abduction force ratio of football players is related to sportive performance parameters and injury incidence during a season. 30 professional football players (25.7±4.8 years, 180.7±8.3cm, 77.6±7.7 kg) were included in the study. The athletes were evaluated with sit and reach test for flexibility; with vertical squat jump test for jumping performances; with 1000 meters running test for endurance; with Y balance test for dynamic balance; and with GroinBar™ for hip adductor-abductor muscle strength. Athletes were followed for one year period and their injury incidence and injuries were recorded according to their region, mechanism, and severity. As a result of this study, there were statistically significant associations between dominant and non-dominant abduction strengths in the positive direction, at moderate strength (r=0.514, p=0.004 and r=0.504, p=0.005); between dominant side posterolateral reach in Y balance test and non-dominant side adductor maximum strength/abductor maximum strength ratio in the negative direction, at weak-moderate strength (r=-0.371, p=0.044); between non-dominant side posterolateral reach in Y balance test and dominant and non-dominant side adductor maximum strength/abductor maximum strength ratio in the negative direction, at moderate strength (r=-0.446, p=0.014 and r=-0.429, p=0.018). When the statistically significant correlations between strength ratios and injury incidences were investigated, there was a positive weak-moderate correlation between abductor muscle imbalance and non-contact regional injury duration (r=0.362, p=0.049); there were negative weak-moderate correlations between non-dominant abductor/adductor strength ratio and duration of injuries in the whole body from all injury types (r=-0.367, p=0.046), and the missing game time due to injuries in the whole body from all injury types (r=-0.362, p=0.049). With these results, it can be said that hip abductor and adductor muscle strengths and ratios have effects on jumping and balance performances in football players and can increase the risk and duration of the injury. It is important to evaluate the strength of muscles around the hips in sports performance evaluations and adjust accordingly in training programs.