A comparison of force generation in isometric hip adductor strength exercises: Introducing the weighted isometric Copenhagen Adduction exercise.

OBJECTIVES

To compare maximal isometric force generation between hip adductor long-lever squeeze, the Copenhagen Adduction (CA) exercise with body-mass only, and the weighted isometric CA exercise, in rugby union players.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Club training facility.

PARTICIPANTS

Forty-four male, rugby union players.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Maximum isometric hip adduction squeeze strength in the long-lever testing position, in addition to maximum isometric force data in the isometric CA exercise, and the weighted isometric CA exercise with increasing load.

RESULTS

Significantly greater (p ≤ 0.05) torque (Nm/kg) was observed in athletes when performing a weighted isometric CA exercise with: 105% body-mass (0.22Nm/kg, +6.8%), 110% body-mass (0.44Nm/kg, +13.1%), 120% body-mass (0.80Nm/kg, +22.6%), 130% body-mass (1.16Nm/kg, +31.3%), 140% body-mass (1.58Nm/kg, +40.8%) and 150% body mass (1.96Nm/kg, +48.3%), in comparison to the isometric CA exercise, with large effect size (ES = 1.372-5.196). Significantly greater torque was also observed when compared to the isometric hip adduction long-lever squeeze exercise, with large effect size (ES = 2.022-4.091). Twenty-nine athletes reached one maximum isometric repetition in weighted isometric CAs at either 130% body-mass (n = 16) or 140% body-mass (n = 13).

CONCLUSIONS

The weighted isometric Copenhagen Adduction exercise demonstrates greater force output than the isometric CA and the long-lever squeeze.