Male basketball players who report hip and groin pain perceive its negative impact both on- and off-court: A cross-sectional study

Objectives: To identify if basketball players aged <20 years (U20) self-report hip and/or groin pain and if they perceive this as a problem. To determine potential differences in self-reported playing (training and match play) loads and Copenhagen Hip and Groin Outcome Score (HAGOS) between those with and without hip/groin pain. Design: Cross-sectional. Methods: Fifty-one pre-elite (state/national representative level) male U20 basketball players (Australian n = 38; Italian n = 13) self-reported current/historical hip/groin 'discomfort/pain' and 'problems', and playing loads. A two-factor regression model was fitted including main effects for hip/groin pain and Cohort and their interaction, with outcome variables playing loads and HAGOS subscale scores and dependent variable hip/groin pain. Results: Twenty-one players (41%) self-reported hip/groin 'discomfort/pain', of which nine perceived no 'problems'. Two of these nine players reported training/playing time loss due to pain. Those self reporting hip/groin discomfort/pain scored lower than those without in HAGOS subscales Symptoms (mean difference in score 8.94; 95%CI -25.24, -5.97), Pain (5.00; -16.42, -2.81), Function in daily living (0.00; -26.72 to -5.59), Function in sport and recreation (6.25; -21.24, -5.33), and hip and/or groin Quality of Life (5.00; -28.63, -8.10), indicating worse hip/groin problems. Participation subscale scores were different only for Italian players (36.25; -51.25, -20.00), with players self-reporting hip/groin discomfort/pain scoring lower. Conclusion: Most players who perceive both hip/groin 'discomfort/pain' and 'problems' also report training/playing time loss, suggesting players' perceptions of problematic symptoms and time-loss are associated. Adolescent basketball players perceive hip/groin pain to negatively impact their daily lives and sporting function. (c) 2021 Sports Medicine Australia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The study aimed to investigate self-reported hip and groin pain among U20 basketball players and their perceptions of playing loads. Results showed that most players who reported hip and groin pain also experienced training/playing time loss, suggesting a correlation between problematic symptoms and time loss.