RESEARCH PAPER
Investigation of the correlation between the ability to change direction and the development of the hip musculature of the Hungarian National Handball Academy’s adolescent men’s handball players
1
Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
2
Hungarian National Handball Academy, Balatonboglár, Hungary
3
Department of Kinesiology, Institute of Sports and Health Sciences, Hungarian University of Sports Science, Budapest, Hungary
Submission date: 2025-05-27
Final revision date: 2025-06-30
Acceptance date: 2025-08-19
Publication date: 2025-09-24
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Background:
Hip adductor weakness is a common risk factor for groin injuries among adolescent male handball players. Targeted hip strengthening may improve functional performance and reduce injury risk.
Material and methods:
29 elite male handball players (aged 14-17) from the Hungarian National Handball Academy participated in a prospective, controlled study. 14 players completed an 8-week hip-focused training program, while 15 served as controls. Pre- and post-tests assessed hip adductor strength (ergoFET), dynamic balance (Y-Balance test), core stability (side and Copenhagen plank), and change of direction speed (5-10-5 CODS test). Statistical analysis included t-tests, ANOVA, ANCOVA (age as covariate), and correlation analysis.
Results:
The intervention group showed significant improvements in hip adductor strength (p<0.01), balance (p<0.01), and agility at 10 m and 20 m distances (p<0.05), with strong correlations between adductor strength and both balance and CODS performance. No significant changes were observed in FMS scores.
Conclusions:
The 8-week training program effectively improved hip adductor strength, dynamic balance, and directional change speed in adolescent handball players. These results support the integration of specific hip strengthening exercises into youth athletic training to enhance performance and reduce injury risk.
Hip adductor weakness is a common risk factor for groin injuries among adolescent male handball players. Targeted hip strengthening may improve functional performance and reduce injury risk.
Material and methods:
29 elite male handball players (aged 14-17) from the Hungarian National Handball Academy participated in a prospective, controlled study. 14 players completed an 8-week hip-focused training program, while 15 served as controls. Pre- and post-tests assessed hip adductor strength (ergoFET), dynamic balance (Y-Balance test), core stability (side and Copenhagen plank), and change of direction speed (5-10-5 CODS test). Statistical analysis included t-tests, ANOVA, ANCOVA (age as covariate), and correlation analysis.
Results:
The intervention group showed significant improvements in hip adductor strength (p<0.01), balance (p<0.01), and agility at 10 m and 20 m distances (p<0.05), with strong correlations between adductor strength and both balance and CODS performance. No significant changes were observed in FMS scores.
Conclusions:
The 8-week training program effectively improved hip adductor strength, dynamic balance, and directional change speed in adolescent handball players. These results support the integration of specific hip strengthening exercises into youth athletic training to enhance performance and reduce injury risk.
REFERENCES (17)
1.
Martín-Guzón I, Muñoz A, Lorenzo-Calvo J, Muriarte D, Marquina M, de la Rubia A. Injury prevalence of the lower limbs in handball players: a systematic review. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021; 19(1): 332. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph....
2.
Bere T, Alonso JM, Wangensteen A, Bakken A, Eirale C, Dijkstra HP, et al. Injury and illness surveillance during the 24th Men's Handball World Championship 2015 in Qatar. Br J Sports Med. 2015; 49(17): 1151-1156. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjspor....
3.
Valenzuela KA, Lynn SK, Mikelson LR, Noffal GJ, Judelson DA. Effect of acute alterations in foot strike patterns during running on sagittal plane lower limb kinematics and kinetics. J Sports Sci Med. 2015; 14(1): 225-232.
4.
Bencke J, Curtis D, Krogshede C, Klemmensen L, Thomas J, Bandholm T, et al. Biomechanical evaluation of the side-cutting manoeuvre associated with ACL injury in young female handball players. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2013; 21(8): 1876-1881. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167....
5.
Behm DG, Faigenbaum AD, Falk B, Klentrou P. Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology position paper: resistance training in children and adolescents. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2008; 33(3): 547-561. https://doi.org/10.1139/H08-02....
6.
Clarsen B, Bahr R, Heymans MW, Engedahl M, Midtsundstad G, Rosenlund L, et al. The prevalence and impact of overuse injuries in five Norwegian sports: application of a new surveillance method. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2015; 25(3): 323-330. https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.12....
7.
Zemski AJ, Keating SE, Broad EM, Marsh DJ, Hind K, Slater GJ. Preseason body composition adaptations in elite white and Polynesian Rugby Union athletes. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2019; 29(1): 9-17 https://doi.org/10.1123/ijsnem....
8.
Fritz B, Parkar AP, Cerezal L, Storgaard M, Boesen M, Åström G, et al. Sports imaging of team handball injuries. Semin Musculoskelet Radiol. 2020; 24(3): 227-245. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0040....
9.
Harøy J, Clarsen B, Wiger EG, Øyen MG, Serner A, Thorborg K, et al. The Adductor Strengthening Programme prevents groin problems among male football players: a cluster-randomised controlled trial. Br J Sports Med. 2019; 53(3): 150-157. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjspor....
10.
Alonso-Fernández D, Fernández-Rodríguez R, Taboada-Iglesias Y, Gutiérrez-Sánchez Á. Effects of Copenhagen adduction exercise on muscle architecture and adductor flexibility. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022; 19(11): 6563. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph....
11.
Wilson BR, Robertson KE, Burnham JM, Yonz MC, Ireland ML, Noehren B. The relationship between hip strength and the Y Balance Test. J Sport Rehabil. 2018; 27(5): 445-450. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsr.20....
12.
Blasimann A, Eberle S, Scuderi MM. [Effect of core muscle strengthening exercises (including plank and side plank) on injury rate in male adult soccer players: a systematic review]. Sportverletz Sportschaden. 2018; 32(1): 35-46 (in German). https://doi.org/10.1055/a-0575....
13.
Sekulic D, Krolo A, Spasic M, Uljevic O, Peric M. The development of a new stop'n'go reactive-agility test. J Strength Cond Res. 2014; 28(11): 3306-3312. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.00....
14.
Jones S, Mullen R, Clair Z, Wrigley R, Andersen TE, Williams M. Field based lower limb strength tests provide insight into sprint and change of direction ability in academy footballers. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2021; 31(12): 2178-2186. https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.14....
15.
Menai KJ, Irani A. Impact of adductor strengthening on sprint time and agility in football players. International Journal of Physiotheraphy. 2020; 7(5): 196-201. https://doi.org/10.15621/ijphy....
16.
Polglass G, Burrows A, Willett M. Impact of a modified progressive Copenhagen adduction exercise programme on hip adduction strength and postexercise muscle soreness in professional footballers. BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med. 2019; 5(1): e000570. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjsem....
17.
Domínguez-Navarro F, Benitez-Martínez JC, Ricart-Luna B, Cotolí-Suárez P, Blasco-Igual JM, Casaña-Granell J. Impact of hip abductor and adductor strength on dynamic balance and ankle biomechanics in young elite female basketball players. Sci Rep. 2022; 12(1): 3491. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598....
| eISSN: | 2354-0265 |
| ISSN: | 2353-6942 |
We process personal data collected when visiting the website. The function of obtaining information about users and their behavior is carried out by voluntarily entered information in forms and saving cookies in end devices. Data, including cookies, are used to provide services, improve the user experience and to analyze the traffic in accordance with the Privacy policy. Data are also collected and processed by Google Analytics tool (more).
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
