The Copenhagen Adduction Exercise is not Applied by the Majority of Professional and Semi-Professional Soccer Players and Coaches

Groin injuries are frequent and commonly seen in soccer. The Copenhagen Adduction Exercise (CAE) increases eccentric hip adduction strength and reduces the groin injury incident.

To assess the professional and semi-professional soccer players and coaches’ awareness, implementation, and opinion of the CAE.

A cross-sectional study based on a survey consisting of questions covering the awareness, implementation, and opinion of CAE by soccer players and coaches. It was sent to all FIFA continental football federations. Primary outcomes were awareness level, implementation rate, and their view of the CAE’s effectiveness in reducing groin injury.

A total of 1621 male and female professional and semi-professional soccer players (PP and SPP) and coaches (PC and SPC) completed the survey. Most PP (93.5%) and SPP (81.4%) were unaware of the CAE (p<0.001), with high implementation rates (p=0.005). In contrast, the PC had significantly higher awareness about the CAE than the SPC (p<0.001). A moderate association between the level and awareness (Cramér’s V=0.340) was found. The highest percentage of awareness was found in the UEFA at 42.6%. Over 67% of those who implemented the CAE reported a positive attitude about the program's efficacy, with a score of >8 out of 10.

Most PP, SPP, and SPC were unaware of the CAE. Further work needs to be done to educate soccer players and coaches about the importance of implementing the CAE and its effectiveness in reducing groin injuries to enhance the CAE implementation.