Objective To examine whether preceding seven-day football training load and previous seven-day groin pain influence hip adduction squeeze strength in academy football players. Design Longitudinal observational study with twice weekly repeated measures over seven weeks. Setting West African academy football club. Participants Nineteen male academy football players (age 16.5 ± 0.9 [15-18] years). Main outcome measures Hip adduction squeeze strength, performance-limiting groin pain, and football training load were captured. Observations with and without groin pain were stratified into two groups, and two linear-mixed effects models examined hip adduction squeeze strength based on preceding-week football training load. Results Hip adduction squeeze strength was significantly influenced by football training load when associated with groin pain (estimate -0.13, 95% CI [-0.20, -0.07], p < 0.001). In observations without groin pain, football training load did not influence hip adduction squeeze strength (estimate -0.01, 95% CI [-0.06, 0.03], p = 0.634. Conclusions When groin pain is present, hip adduction squeeze strength is adversely influenced by higher football training loads. Players without groin pain do not experience hip adduction squeeze strength reductions from high football training load. Monitoring training load should be a consideration for practitioners working with football players that are experiencing groin pain. Highlights • Previous studies show groin pain and recent football exposure influence hip adduction squeeze strength. • In the presence of groin pain, high football training loads adversely affect hip adduction squeeze strength. • Football load modifications should be considered when academy players have groin pain and strength deficits.
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