L Janse van Rensburg1, M Dare2, Q Louw3, L Crous4, J Cockroft5, L Williams6, B Olivier7. 1. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences - Stellenbosch University, Physiotherapy Division, PO Box 241, Cape Town, 8000, South Africa. Electronic address: lienke.vanrensburg@gmail.com. 2. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences - Stellenbosch University, Physiotherapy Division, PO Box 241, Cape Town, 8000, South Africa. Electronic address: michaeldare85@hotmail.com. 3. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences - Stellenbosch University, Physiotherapy Division, PO Box 241, Cape Town, 8000, South Africa. Electronic address: qalouw@sun.ac.za. 4. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences - Stellenbosch University, Physiotherapy Division, PO Box 241, Cape Town, 8000, South Africa. Electronic address: lcc@sun.ac.za. 5. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences - Stellenbosch University, Physiotherapy Division, PO Box 241, Cape Town, 8000, South Africa. Electronic address: johnc@sun.ac.za. 6. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences - Stellenbosch University, Physiotherapy Division, PO Box 241, Cape Town, 8000, South Africa. Electronic address: leonie@sun.ac.za. 7. Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Physiotherapy Department, 7 York Road, Parktown, 2193, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa. Electronic address: benita.olivier@wits.ac.za.
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.
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.