Comparison of Electrical Activity in Selected Lumbopelvic-Hip Muscles during a Single Leg Jump-Cut Maneuver in Football Players with Long-Standing Groin Pain and Healthy Players

Long-standing groin pain (LSGP) is a common injury in ball games. This study aimed to compare the electrical activity of selected lumbopelvic-hip muscles during a single leg jump-cut maneuver in football players with LSGP and healthy players.

In this case-control study, 32 football players were divided into two groups: LSGP (n=16) and healthy (n=16). A force plate was used to determine the heel-contact and heel-off moment. The ground reaction forces and the average of three trials of the electrical activity of selected lumbopelvic-hip muscles during a single leg jump-cut maneuver were recorded bilaterally.

At the heel-contact moment, the rectus abdominis and adductor longus muscles on the dominant side and the multifidus muscle on the opposite side showed significantly higher activity in the LSGP group compared to the healthy group (P<0.05). Similarly, at the peak of the vertical reaction force, the rectus abdominis and adductor longus muscles on the dominant side and the multifidus and gluteus medius muscles on the opposite side were significantly more active in the LSGP group (P<0.05). At the toe-off moment, the internal oblique, adductor longus, and gluteus medius muscles on the dominant side and the internal oblique, multifidus, and gluteus medius muscles on the opposite side were also more active in the LSGP group compared to the control group (P<0.05).

Long-standing groin pain causes changes in the electrical activity of muscle groups during different phases of the single-leg jump-cut maneuver, leading to increased dynamic stability and possibly an increased risk of overuse injuries, chronic injuries, economic consequences, and exclusion from sports activities.