Resting thickness of transversus abdominis is decreased in athletes with longstanding adduction-related groin pain

Jansen, Jaap; Weir, Adam; Dénis, Renee; Mens, Jan; Backx, Frank; Stam, Henk

doi:10.1016/j.math.2009.11.001

« Previous Next »Manual Therapy
Volume 15, Issue 2 , Pages 200-205, April 2010

Resting thickness of transversus abdominis is decreased in athletes with longstanding adduction-related groin pain

Jaap Jansen
- University Medical Center Utrecht, Department of Rehabilitation and Sport Medicine, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Erasmus Medical Center, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Corresponding author at: University Medical Center Utrecht, Department of Rehabilitation and Sport Medicine, H.P. Q05.4.304, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands. Tel.: +31 (0)88 755 3394; fax: +31 (0)88 755 5041.
Adam Weir
- Department of Sports Medicine, Antoniushoeve Hospital, The Hague Medical Centre, Leidschendam, The Netherlands
Renee Dénis
- Hogeschool Physical Therapy Thim van der Laan, Nieuwegein, The Netherlands
Jan Mens
- Erasmus Medical Center, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Frank Backx
- University Medical Center Utrecht, Department of Rehabilitation and Sport Medicine, Utrecht, The Netherlands
Henk Stam
- Erasmus Medical Center, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

Received 15 April 2009; received in revised form 21 September 2009; accepted 26 November 2009. published online 14 January 2010.

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to compare thickness of the transversus abdominis (TA) and obliquus internus (OI) muscles between athletes with and without longstanding adduction-related groin pain (LAGP).

Forty two athletes with LAGP and 23 controls were included. Thickness of TA and OI were measured with ultrasound imaging on the right side of the body during rest. Relative muscle thickness (compared to rest) was measured during the active straight leg raise (ASLR) left and right, and during isometric hip adduction.

TA resting thickness was significantly smaller in injured subjects with left-sided (4.0±0.82mm; P<0.001) or right-sided (4.3±0.64mm; P=0.015) groin complaints compared with controls (4.9±0.90mm). No significant differences between patients and controls in TA or OI relative thickness during the ASLR and isometric hip adduction were found (all cases P≥0.15).

In conclusion, TA resting thickness is smaller in athletes with LAGP and may thus be a risk factor for (recurrent) groin injury. This may have implications for therapy and prevention of LAGP.

Keywords: Groin pain, Abdominal muscles, Stability, Ultrasound