The Effect of Compression Shorts on Footballers with Groin Pain

To investigate the effects of zoned high compression shorts and non-zoned low compression shorts on pain and performance in football players with groin pain.

We hypothesise that zoned high compression shorts significantly decrease groin pain in football players without reducing performance.

Pain and performance scores are measured and taken directly after each trail of the physical tests.

Duration and intensity of the football sessions, and the comfort of wearing the shorts should be noted immediately after the football session by the participant. This data is collected by the investigators when the data is provided to the investigators by the participants.

All participants commence the testing procedure with completing the Dutch Hip and Groin Outcome Score questionnaire (HAGOS) (Tak et al. 2018) in order to establish a baseline measurement of the levels of groin related symptoms and problems experienced.

All physical tests are then performed under three conditions: once wearing normal sports clothes (no compression), once wearing zoned high compression (ZHC) shorts, and once wearing non-zoned low compression (NZLC) shorts. Participants perform each of the following three tests three times under each test condition: the Copenhagen Five-second Squeeze (CS) with hand held dynamometry, the Illinois Agility Test (IAT), and a maximum ball shooting test (ST).

After the physical tests are completed under each of the three conditions, the participants are instructed to take both the ZHC-short and the NZLC-short home and wear them both for two weeks each during their football training sessions and matches. After each training and match the participants are instructed to report the following on a form; the duration of the football session in minutes, the intensity of the football session on the Borg-scale (range 6-20) (Borg 1998), the average pain of the session on the NPRS (0-10), and the comfort of the short on a numeric rating scale (NRS) (0-10). After each period of wearing one of two shorts for two weeks the participants are instructed to complete the HAGOS again. Return envelopes will be provided to each participant.