Pelvic and hip kinematics during single-leg drop-landing are altered in sports participants with long-standing groin pain: A cross-sectional study

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the differences in three-dimensional pelvic and hip kinematics during a single-leg drop-landing task in active sports participants with long-standing groin pain compared to healthy matched controls. Design: This was a descriptive study incorporating a cross-sectional design. Setting: The study was conducted at the Unit for Human Movement Analysis, Stellenbosch University, South Africa. Participants: The study sample was comprised of 20 male club level soccer, rugby, running and cycling participants between the ages of 18 and 55 years. Ten cases with long-standing groin pain and ten asymptomatic matched controls participated. Main outcome measures: Three-dimensional pelvic and hip kinematics were captured with an optical motion capture system during a single-leg drop-landing task. Results: Participants with groin pain landed with more downward lateral pelvic tilt (0.77, p = 0.01, r = 035), hip abduction (2.05, p < 0.001. r = 0.49), and hip external rotation (0.86, p = 0.03, r = 0.29) at initial contact and more pelvic internal rotation (1.06, p = 0.02, r = 0.30) at lowest vertical position than the healthy controls. Conclusions: Sports participants with long-standing groin pain have altered pelvic and hip kinematics during single-leg drop-landing compared to healthy controls. The kinematic differences may contribute towards the persistent nature of groin pain, although these strategies may also be present as a result of the presence or the expectation of pain. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.