Abnormal hip physical examination findings in asymptomatic female soccer athletes

Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2015 Jul;23(7):2106-14. doi: 10.1007/s00167-013-2713-7. Epub 2013 Oct 23.

Abstract

Purpose: Examination of the hip provides information regarding risk for pre-arthritic hip disorders, knee injuries, and low back pain. The purpose of this study was to report a hip screening examination of asymptomatic female soccer athletes and to test the hypothesis that these findings vary by competition experience.

Methods: Asymptomatic females from a youth soccer club, a college, and a professional team were evaluated. Passive hip range of motion, hip abduction strength, and hip provocative tests were assessed. Data were compared for the grade/middle school, high school, college, and professional athletes.

Results: One hundred and seventy-two athletes with a mean age of 16.7 ± 5 years (range 10-30) participated. Professional athletes had less flexion (HF) for both hips (p < 0.0001) and less internal rotation (IR) for the preferred kicking leg (p < 0.05) compared to all other groups. Grade/middle school athletes had more external rotation in both hips as compared to all other groups (p < 0.0001). For the preferred kicking leg, collegiate athletes had less hip abduction strength as compared to other groups (p < 0.01). Positive provocative hip tests were found in 22 % of all players and 36 % of the professionals. In professionals, a positive provocative test was associated with ipsilateral decreased HF (p = 0.04).

Conclusion: Asymptomatic elite female soccer athletes with the most competition experience had less bilateral hip flexion and preferred kicking leg IR than less-experienced athletes. Positive provocative hip tests were found in 22 % of athletes. Future studies are needed to show whether these findings link to risk for intra-articular hip or lumbar spine and knee disorders.

Level of evidence: III.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Asymptomatic Diseases
  • Child
  • Female
  • Hip / physiopathology*
  • Hip Injuries / etiology
  • Humans
  • Knee Injuries / etiology
  • Low Back Pain / etiology
  • Physical Examination*
  • Range of Motion, Articular
  • Risk Factors
  • Rotation
  • Soccer / physiology*
  • Young Adult