Functional movement screen and Y balance tests in adolescent footballers with hip/groin symptoms

To assess the correlation between the functional movement screen (FMS) and Y balance test (Y-BT) performance, and the self-reported hip/groin problems, and to compare healthy with hip/groin pain participants.

a cross-sectional study.

Sports hall in a football club.

43 elite adolescent football (soccer) players.

The Copenhagen Hip and Groin Outcome Score (HAGOS), Anterior, posterolateral and posteromedial distance of Y-BT, FMS score.

Y balance and FMS test kit, HAGOS questionnaire.

The posterolateral, posteromedial distance and composite reach score of the Y-BT were lower in participants with hip/groin problems (p < 0.05). FMS performance was similar in healthy and hip/groin groups. There was a weak correlation (r = 0.32, p= 0.03) between the HAGOS Activities of Daily Living subscale and FMS_stabil. In the Y-BT the posterolateral reach was weakly correlated with Symptoms (r = 0.35-0.44, p < 0.02) and moderately correlated with Pain (r = 0.44, p < 0.01) subscales. Posteromedial direction reach with the right leg was weakly correlated with Symptoms (r = 0.32, p = 0.04) and Pain (r = 0.39, p = 0.01). The Y-BT composite score was moderately correlated with Symptoms and Pain (r = 0.42-0.44, p < 0.01).

The Y-BT and the FMS subtests were weakly or moderately correlated with self-reported hip/groin problems. Thus, these tests should be investigated further in adolescent footballers because they may have potential to predict hip and groin problems.