Groin
We know how debilitating hip and groin injuries can be and so it is our aim to ensure you can return to your choice of sport as quickly as possible and improve your athletic performance to prevent further injury from reoccurring. The most effective treatment in tackling sustained hip and groin pain is through exercise-based rehabilitation. Our research team has dedicated many years to designing a rehabilitation program which targets all the underlying biomechanical causes of hip and groin injury. Successful rehabilitation is considered to be achieved when individuals return to their sport – most within an average of 10 weeks.
To deliver this service, we have put together a team of highly experienced strength and conditioning coaches, physiotherapists and biomechanists who operate seamlessly together in our 14,000sqft state of the art facility. The cornerstone of this facility is our 3D biomechanics laboratory which allows us to analyse strength, power, jump and change of direction mechanics. We use this data to carry out a detailed analysis of your current ability and derive an individualised training plan. To aid in developing the service, our team of postdoc and PhD researchers analyse the data to improve the advice and feedback you are given. We then share our findings with the world through peer reviewed publications and presentations all over the globe.
Contents
What is 3D Biomechanics testing?
3D biomechanics involves the use of motion capture software to track the movement of your joints in space, as well as to analyse the forces applied to your body during movement. We are the only clinic in the world offering full AMTI and VICON Nexus 2 and multi-directional biomechanics testing. These allow us to measure joint relationships, forces, peak torques and angular velocities in high-speed cutting, jumping, and landing for both diagnostics, performance, and rehabilitation.
Why do we use 3D Biomechanics testing?
3D motion analysis allows us to analyse your movement in an environment that closely replicates the demands of your sport with a high degree of accuracy in our Astro-turf motion capture laboratory. Your 3D motion analysis results will be used to accurately tailor your rehabilitation to enhance your functional stability, reduce the risk of future injury and facilitate safe expediated return to performance.
What are the tests?
Testing involves the performance of various sport-specific movements (e.g. change of direction cutting, jumping and hopping) in our 3D lab under the guidance of our biomechanists. The tests should not cause any discomfort, however, in the case that you feel pain, please speak to a biomechanist for guidance.
3D Biomechanics
Jump Profiling
Countermovement jump
This test is a measure of jump height and explosive lower limb power which will be performed in double and single leg variations, with symmetry between limbs being an ideal outcome.
Drop jump
This test will measure your plyometric ability and reactive strength which is a key quality in injury prevention by ensuring efficient transfer of forces across the hip and groin region during running, jumping and change of direction movements. This will also be completed in double and single leg variations.
Hurdle hop
This measures your ability to effectively control all segments of your body (e.g. trunk, pelvis, thigh) during an explosive sideways movement which allows an insight into your change of direction movements.
Cutting Manoeuvres
110° planned cut
This replicates hi-speed, sport-specific movements and we will use this to look at your change of direction technique and point out any areas that you may need to work on.
This testing battery will be completed for both your initial and retest assessments.
Testing preparation
To create the 3D model of your body, our technology uses retroreflective markers to reflect infrared light back into our hi-speed cameras. The cameras locate these markers in space and transmit live feedback of your body to our computers. This visual feedback is combined with force data from our force plates to provide a holistic picture of how you move. These markers will be applied to your body using a spray-on plaster and a special double-sided tape. If you have an allergy to plasters, please tell a biomechanist so that suitable adaptations can be made.
This is what you see:
Figure 1.
This is what we see:
Figure 2.
Disclaimer: What we see on the computer is what you see in the follow-up and how we might present data in research. We do not take live video recordings of you, or recordings which may lead to your identification. The only imaging we record is of the 3D stick figure, personalised by only your de-identified patient number and various anthropometric measurements (i.e. height, weight, knee width). This ensures that our data remains anonymous, from data collection to publication. Suitable adjustments can be made for those who have concerns about Figure 1.
Handing over
After you have completed the testing battery, a physiotherapist will take you through the 3D motion capture clips alongside a performance report, which presents all the metrics collected in the labs. These results build a comprehensive rehabilitation program going forward to speed up return to play times.
How do I prepare?
Please arrive 15 minutes before your appointment is due to start and be ready in appropriate clothing.
Appropriate clothing:
Shorts (ensure they are loose enough to be rolled up)
Ankle socks
Sports bra
Trainers
Extra items:
Towel
Water bottle
Inhaler (if required)
If you have long hair, please come with your hair tied back so we can see the top of your neck. Please minimise or avoid moisturising or applying tanning products for at least a day before your appointment to make the markers stick better to your body.
Research and my data
You are playing a huge part in improving outcomes from injury as many have done before you. As with any specific research, full ethical approval was given by the UPMC Sports Surgery Clinic ethics board. This means the research team considered the risks, implications, and validity of the interventions and the data collected. When you enter the service, you will be taken through the testing process, risks and be offered the opportunity to ask any questions. You will then be asked whether you consent to your data being included in our research. This means your de-identified questionnaires, operative notes and biomechanical data will be used for research to further understand groin injuries. Of course, your participation in the study is entirely voluntary. If you do not wish to participate in the study your decision will not in any way affect your medical care and you can still take part in testing. If you do decide to participate in the study, your identification will remain completely anonymous, and nobody will be able to link the information to you. If you are under the age of 18, a parent or guardian needs to give their consent for your data to be used in research. However, if you the participant do not consent to the use of your data, then it cannot be used in research.
World Leader
Our research database of over 4000 patients with athletic groin pain suggests that the focus should be on the biomechanics of change of direction. Understanding this allows the specific targeting of a rehabilitation program which is focused on strength, power and movement, aimed at expediting your return to training and performance. This data suggests that an anatomical diagnosis may be less important and that the words ‘osteitis pubis’ and ‘sportsman’s hernia’ alongside FAI and CAM hip injuries should be put to one side.
Our one stop clinic offers Sports Physician consultations, MRI imaging, 3D Biomechanical testing and rehabilitation intervention on the same day.
