The sport function subscale of the Copenhagen Hip and Groin Outcome Score could not be an indicator of postural balance in soccer players with groin pain

Abstract

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the association between the Copenhagen Hip and Groin Outcome Score (HAGOS) related to sport and recreation (Sport/Rec) and static and dynamic postural balance in soccer players with groin pain. We hypothesized that better postural balance outcomes would correlate with higher HAGOS Sport/Rec scores in these players.

Methods

Eighty-four soccer players with groin pain from seven soccer teams volunteered to take part in the study. An investigator collected static (stabilometric platform) and dynamic (Y-Balance Test (Y-BT)) postural balance, and patient-reported outcome measures (HAGOS) in the research laboratory. To investigate the association between the postural balance outcomes and the HAGOS Sport/Rec scores, Spearman’s correlation coefficient (r) was used.

Results

The included participants presented the following demographic information: age: 21.56 ​yrs (2.22), height: 1.78 ​m (0.06), body mass: 75.10 ​kg (8.41), body mass index: 23.80 ​km/m² (2.50). The HAGOS Sport/Rec scores showed a small significant positive correlation with the posteromedial reach distance for the Y-BT on both injured (r ​= ​0.21, p ​= ​0.04) and non-injured (r ​= ​0.22, p ​= ​0.04) limbs. However, no significant associations (p ​> ​0.05) were found between these scores and the other Y-BT outcomes or with the static bipedal and unipedal postural balance findings.

Conclusion

Overall, the findings of the present study showed only small positive correlations between the posteromedial direction of the Y-BT and the HAGOS Sport/Rec scores. Given the observed small magnitude of correlations and the non-significant associations between the HAGOS Sport/Rec scores and the rest of the Y-BT outcomes or static postural balance outcomes, it appears that Sport/Rec may not serve as a comprehensive indicator for postural balance outcomes. Therefore, coaches and clinicians should consider combining postural balance assessments with the HAGOS Sport/Rec scores to comprehensively tailor their interventions to address both the subjective and objective functional aspects of groin pain in soccer players.

Level of evidence

3.