A new clinical test for measurement of lower limb specific range of motion in football players

OBJECTIVE: The association between groin pain and range of motion is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to develop a test to measure sport specific range of motion (SSROM) of the lower limb, to evaluate its reliability and describe findings in non-injured (NI) and injured football players. DESIGN: Case-controlled. SETTING: 6 Dutch elite clubs, 6 amateur clubs and a sports medicine practice. PARTICIPANTS: 103 NI elite and 83 NI amateurs and 57 football players with unilateral adductor-related groin pain. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Sport specific hip extension, adduction, abduction, internal and external rotation of both legs were examined with inclinometers. Test-retest reliability (ICC), standard error of measurement (SEM) and minimal detectable change (MDC) were calculated. Non-injured players were compared with the injured group. RESULTS: Intra and inter tester ICCs were acceptable and ranged from 0.90 to 0.98 and 0.50-0.88. SEM ranged from 1.3 to 9.2° and MDC from 3.7 to 25.6° for single directions and total SSROM. Both non-injured elite and amateur players had very similar total SSROM in non-dominant and dominant legs (188-190, SD ± 25). Injured players had significant (p < 0.05) total SSROM deficits with 187(SD ± 31)° on the healthy and 135(SD ± 29)° on the injured side. CONCLUSION: The SSROM test shows acceptable reliability. Loss of SSROM is found on the injured side in football players with unilateral adductor-related groin pain. Whether this is the cause or effect of groin pain cannot be stated due to the study design. Whether restoration of SSROM in injured players leads to improved outcomes should be investigated in new studies.