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Nearly 30% fewer groin injuries found following 20-minute prevention program

No significant differences were seen in the rates of groin surgery between soccer players in treatment and control groups.

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CALGARY, Alberta — Using a novel pre-season groin injury prevention program may significantly reduce the number of such injuries in professional soccer players, according to a study presented here.

Holly J. Silvers, MPT, and colleagues conducted a randomized, controlled trial comparing rates of groin injury and surgery among 12 professional soccer teams. Eight teams completed their normal pre-season training programs and four teams participated in a 20-minute groin injury prevention program for 2 to 3 weeks during their pre-season training.

The prevention program consisted of dynamic stretching, strengthening and pelvic proprioceptic exercises, according to the study.

Investigators found that the intervention group had a 28% lower rate of groin injuries during the season. However, both groups had a similar rate of groin surgery, said Silvers, who presented the results at the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine 2007 Annual Meeting.

"With the prevention program, we were able to decrease injuries by 28% within the intervention group for play and practice groin injuries," Silvers said. "The groin prevention program was not successful, however, in reducing surgical intervention."

Silvers noted that confounding variables or insufficient statistical power could have masked any significant differences in surgery rates between the groups.

The study included 106 players in the intervention group and 209 players in the control group.

Investigators found a groin injury rate of 0.44 per 1,000 hours of practice and play and a groin surgery rate of 0.13 per 1,000 hours for the intervention group. The control group had an injury rate of 0.61 per 1,000 hours and a surgery rate of 0.18 per 1,000 hours, according to the study.

For more information:

• Holly J. Silvers, MPT, can be reached at Santa Monica Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Research Foundation, 1301 Twentieth St., Suite 150, Santa Monica, CA 90404; e-mail: hollysilverspt@aol.com.
• Gerhardt ME, Giza E, Silvers HJ, et al. Groin injury prevention program in professional soccer players. Presented at the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine 2007 Annual Meeting. July 12-15, 2007. Calgary, Alberta.