Research project: Movement dysfunction in footballers with hip and groin pain

Abnormal hip shape is common in professional footballers and can give rise to ‘femoroacetabular impingement’ (FAI), which can cause groin pain and increases the risk of osteoarthritis. We do not know how to predict who will develop hip problems, or know when or why this hip shape develops but it is likely to take place during adolescence when the growing portion of bone is susceptible to injury.

We aim to find out more about what causes FAI and what abnormalities in movement are associated with it, to help us find ways of preventing the development of osteoarthritis.

Movement dysfunction is being studied for the first time in academy footballers aged 9-18 years, using clinical and functional tests, and biomechanical and neurophysiological techniques to validate measures and understand mechanisms of dysfunction. This work underpins development of effective exercise programmes to prevent the development of FAI in elite and recreational footballers.

This hip problem is important to consider in recreational as well as professional footballers. As the population is being encouraged to become more active, it is vital that we find ways to exercise safely and prevent overloading joints known to be susceptible to injury and arthritis. Our research involves studying professional academy footballers, as well as local recreational footballers and school children who do not play football at a competitive level, to provide a comparison with normal development in adolescents.

Collaborators:

• Mo Gimpel, Matthew Radcliffe -physiotherapists at Southampton Football Club
• Sarah Mottram, Mark Comerford - Movement Performance Solutions