Analysis of the Christiania stop in professional roller hockey players with and without previous groin pain: a prospective case series study

Purpose: In skating, the sudden controlled turning and stopping can cause the overuse of muscles in the adductor region, altering the whole skating performance, causing muscular strains and, consequently, groin pain. The aim of the study was to describe the movement pattern of a group of professional athletes with previous groin pain experience compared to a no-groin pain group. Methods: A prospective case series study design was performed. Eight male quad hockey players (four have had previous groin pain) were recruited. Players were asked to perform the Christiania stop: muscles activity patterns and lower limbs kinematics were simultaneously acquired with an optoelectronic system and infrared cameras allowing a computerized three-dimensional motion recording. Results: Groin pain group showed lower peak values in kinematic parameters and the most frequent pattern of surface electromyography amplitude referred to adductor longus muscle, vastus medialis, tensor fascia latae and transversus abdominis. In the no-groin pain group, the most frequent pattern of surface electromyography amplitude referred to transversus abdominis, adductor, vastus medialis and tensor fascia latae. Conclusion: Previous groin pain experience could affect the task performance by a subject’s unconscious attempt to preserve the groin area.