Descriptive profile of hip range of motion in elite tennis players

Abstract

Objective: To describe the range of motion (ROM) profile (flexion, extension, abduction, internal and external rotation) of the hip in elite tennis players; and (b) to analyse if there are sex-related differences in the hip ROM. Design: Cohort study. Setting: Controlled laboratory environment. Participants: 81 male and 28 female tennis players completed this study. Main outcome measures: Descriptive measures of passive hip flexion, extension and abduction, and internal and external active and passive hip rotation ROM were taken. Magnitude-based inferences on differences between sex (males vs. females) and hip (dominant vs. non-dominant) were made by standardising differences. Results: No clinically meaningful bilateral and sex-related differences in any of the hip ROM measures. In addition, it was found that both males and females had restricted mobility measures on hip flexion (<80 ), extension (<0 ) and abduction (<40 ). Furthermore, the 30% of males also presented restricted active and passive hip internal rotation ROM values (<25 ). Finally, both males and females had normal mobility measures of hip external rotation ROM (active [>25 ] and passive [35 ]) Conclusions: Asymmetric hip joint ROM measures found during clinical examination and screening may indicate abnormalities and the need of rehabilitation (e.g., flexibility training). In addition, clinicians should include specific exercises (e.g., stretching) in their conditioning, prevention and rehabilitation programmes aiming to avoid restricted mobility of hip flexion (males ¼ 74 ; females ¼ 78 ), extension (males ¼ 1.5; females ¼ 0.4), abduction (males ¼ 35 ; females ¼ 34 ) and internal rotation (males ¼ 30 ; females ¼ 35) that might be generated as a consequence of playing tennis.