Adductor muscle strain is a common cause of groin pain in young athletes, particularly in gymnasts who frequently perform movements that require extreme hip flexibility and strength. Muscle imbalance around the hip joint and reduced core stability may increase the risk of adductor injuries.

This randomized clinical trial aims to investigate the effect of adding core stability training to a traditional physiotherapy rehabilitation program on the hip adduction-abduction strength ratio in young gymnasts with adductor muscle strain.

Thirty-six young gymnasts aged 7-10 years with Grade I or II adductor strain will be randomly assigned to two groups. Both groups will receive a traditional physiotherapy rehabilitation program for eight weeks, while the study group will also perform additional core stability exercises.

Outcomes will include hip adductor and abductor strength measured using a hand-held dynamometer, pain intensity assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and hip and groin function evaluated using the Copenhagen Hip and Groin Outcome Score (HAGOS).

The findings of this study may help determine whether adding core stability training improves rehabilitation outcomes in young gymnasts with adductor muscle strain.

Adductor muscle strain is one of the most common causes of groin pain in athletes and is frequently reported in sports that involve rapid directional changes, high-impact landings, and extreme hip ranges of motion. Young gymnasts are particularly vulnerable to such injuries due to the repetitive mechanical loading placed on the hip and groin region during training and performance. Muscle imbalance around the hip joint, particularly an altered hip adduction to abduction (ADD:ABD) strength ratio, has been identified as a key intrinsic risk factor associated with groin injuries.

Core stability plays an essential role in maintaining lumbopelvic control and providing proximal stability for efficient movement of the lower extremities. Deficits in core stability may increase compensatory movements at the hip joint and contribute to excessive loading on the adductor muscles. Consequently, incorporating core stability exercises into rehabilitation programs may improve neuromuscular control and optimize hip muscle function.

The aim of this randomized clinical trial is to investigate the effect of adding core stability training to a traditional physiotherapy rehabilitation program on hip adduction-abduction strength ratio, pain intensity, and hip and groin function in young gymnasts diagnosed with adductor muscle strain.

Thirty-six young gymnasts aged 7-10 years with Grade I or Grade II adductor muscle strain will be randomly assigned to either a study group or a control group. Both groups will receive a traditional physiotherapy program three times per week for eight weeks. The study group will additionally perform a structured core stability training program.

Outcome measures will include hip adductor and abductor muscle strength assessed using a hand-held dynamometer, pain intensity measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and functional outcomes evaluated using the Copenhagen Hip and Groin Outcome Score (HAGOS). Assessments will be conducted before and after the intervention period.

The results of this study may contribute to improving rehabilitation strategies for young athletes with adductor-related groin injuries and may help determine whether core stability training provides additional benefits beyond traditional physiotherapy.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Young gymnastic athletes aged 7-10 years.

  • Male or female participants who are actively practicing gymnastics.
  • Clinically diagnosed with Grade I or Grade II adductor muscle strain by an orthopedic physician.
  • Presence of groin pain reproduced during resisted hip adduction test.
  • Positive adductor squeeze test indicating adductor-related groin pain.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Presence of radiological evidence of hip joint pathology or fracture.

  • Neurological disorders affecting motor control or balance.
  • History of previous hip or pelvic surgery.
  • Presence of spinal pain involving the thoracolumbar region.
  • Any medical condition that could interfere with participation in the rehabilitation program or outcome assessments.

"Individual Participant Data (IPD) from this study will not be shared due to privacy and ethical considerations. The dataset contains sensitive information about study participants, and sharing it publicly could risk violating confidentiality agreements and data protection regulations. Additionally, data sharing may be restricted by institutional policies, participant consent forms, and legal requirements governing the use of clinical trial data."

Due to the nature of the exercise-based rehabilitation interventions, blinding of participants and treating therapists was not feasible. Participants were aware of the type of treatment they received (traditional physiotherapy alone or traditional physiotherapy combined with core stability training). No additional parties were masked during the trial. Outcome assessments were performed using standardized procedures to minimize measurement bias