Rationale for a hip/groin injury prevention program for ice hockey players: a randomized feasibility study protocol

Objective To define a plan for evaluating the feasibility of a hip/groin injury prevention program for ice hockey teams in preparation for a prospective cluster, randomized controlled trial.

Background Ice hockey players are at high risk of sustaining traumatic and overuse injuries, especially around the hip/groin region. Muscle weakness surrounding the hip joint has been identified as a risk factor for groin-related pain. However, injury prevention research in ice hockey is scarce. Only one previous investigation showed that an exercise prevention program significantly reduced the incidence of adductor muscle strains in professional ice hockey players. The feasibility of a hip/groin injury prevention program applied to one youth ice hockey team during a preparatory phase and consecutive season needs to be evaluated.

Design A cluster-randomized feasibility study protocol.

Methods Participants will be cluster randomized to either the intervention or control group. Feasibility will be based on the recruitment and dropout rates, use and adherence to the intervention, responsiveness and number of adverse events.

Intervention The hip/groin injury prevention program comprisesthe Copenhagen adduction exercise and ice hockey-specific functional strength and balance exercises. Each player will also perform individual strength exercises for each hip muscle group in the case of an identified hip muscle strength deficit.

Discussion High participation and low dropout rates, high program use and adherence as well as high responsiveness of players and staff members are expected to be achieved. Biases, e.g. contamination, injury reporting, that may occur will be addressed to minimize their risk when evaluated on a larger scale.