TY - JOUR T1 - Is lower hip range of motion a risk factor for groin pain in athletes? A systematic review with clinical applications JF - British Journal of Sports Medicine JO - Br J Sports Med SP - 1611 LP - 1621 DO - 10.1136/bjsports-2016-096619 VL - 51 IS - 22 AU - Igor Tak AU - Leonie Engelaar AU - Vincent Gouttebarge AU - Maarten Barendrecht AU - Sylvia Van den Heuvel AU - Gino Kerkhoffs AU - Rob Langhout AU - Janine Stubbe AU - Adam Weir Y1 - 2017/11/01 UR - http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/51/22/1611.abstract N2 - Background Whether hip range of motion (ROM) is a risk factor for groin pain in athletes is not known.Objectives To systematically review the relationship between hip ROM and groin pain in athletes in cross-sectional/case–control and prospective studies.Study design Systematic review, prospectively registered (PROSPERO) according to PRISMA guidelines.Methods Pubmed, Embase, CINAHL and SPORTDiscus were systematically searched up to December 2015. Two authors performed study selection, data extraction/analysis, quality assessment (Critical Appraisal Skills Programme) and strength of evidence synthesis.Results We identified seven prospective and four case–control studies. The total quality score ranged from 29% to 92%. Heterogeneity in groin pain classification, injury definitions and physical assessment precluded data pooling. There was strong evidence that total rotation of both hips below 85° measured at the pre-season screening was a risk factor for groin pain development. Strong evidence suggested that internal rotation, abduction and extension were not associated with the risk or presence of groin pain.Conclusion Total hip ROM is the factor most consistently related to groin pain in athletes. Screening for hip ROM is unlikely to correctly identify an athlete at risk of developing groin pain because of the small ROM differences found and poor ROM measurement properties. ER -