Abdominal/Adductor Strength Imbalance in Soccer Players with Osteitis Pubis

Background and Objective: The muscle imbalance between abdominal and hip adductor muscles as an etiology for osteitis pubis is not well understood. The concept of a relationship between eccentric/concentric ratios at the pelvis and osteitis pubis in athletes is limited. This study aimed to compare the eccentric/concentric ratios for abdominal/ adductor, abdominal/back, and hip adductor muscles as well as eccentric abdominal/eccentric adductor muscles in soccer players suffering from osteitis pubis with those in healthy athletes. Material and Methods: Twenty male soccer athletes with osteitis pubis were recruited to participate and 20 healthy male soccer athletes were recruited to participate. Peak torque/body weight (PT/BW) for the hip adductor, abdominal, and back muscles during isokinetic concentric and eccentric contraction modes at a speed of 180°/s was recorded for healthy players and soccer athletes with osteitis pubis. Eccentric/concentric ratios for the abdominal/adductor, abdominal/back, and hip adductor muscles and the eccentric abdominal/eccentric adductor muscles were measured for both groups. Results: There was a significant decrease in the eccentric abdominal/concentric hip adductor muscles ratio (p = 0.000) and in the eccentric/concentric hip adductor muscles ratio (p = 0.016) between the osteitis pubis group and the healthy control group. Conclusion: Soccer players with osteitis pubis present with strength imbalance. The osteitis pubis group displayed eccentric weakness of the abdominal and adductor muscles, resulting in imbalances in the normal eccentric abdominal/concentric adductor and eccentric/concentric adductor ratios. Therefore, exercises that increase the eccentric strength of abdominal and hip adductor muscles may be beneficial to include in rehabilitation programs of patients with osteitis pubis.