| CTRI Number |
CTRI/2025/09/095209 [Registered on: 22/09/2025] Trial Registered Prospectively |
| Last Modified On: |
22/09/2025 |
| Post Graduate Thesis |
Yes |
| Type of Trial |
Interventional |
|
Type of Study
|
Physiotherapy (Not Including YOGA) |
| Study Design |
Randomized Factorial Trial |
|
Public Title of Study
|
Benefits of Holmich Protocol on Pain and how strong the muscle strength will benefit the Hockey Athlete with Groin Pain |
|
Scientific Title of Study
|
Efficacy of the Holmich Protocol on Pain and Adductor Muscle Strength For Hockey Athletes with Chronic Adductor Related Groin Pain |
| Trial Acronym |
Nil |
|
Secondary IDs if Any
|
| Secondary ID |
Identifier |
| NIL |
NIL |
|
|
Details of Principal Investigator or overall Trial Coordinator (multi-center study)
|
| Name |
Govinda Vasan A |
| Designation |
PG student |
| Affiliation |
Saveetha College of Physiotherapy |
| Address |
Room no. 5A1, Department of Sport Sciences, Health Science Block, 4th floor, Saveetha College of Physiotherapy, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Thandalam.
Room no. 5A1, Department of Sport Sciences, Health Science Block, 4th floor, Saveetha College of Physiotherapy, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Thandalam.
Chennai
TAMIL NADU
602501
India |
| Phone |
9962186907 |
| Fax |
|
| Email |
govindavasan16@gmail.com |
|
Details of Contact Person
Scientific Query
|
| Name |
Dr Vinodh Kumar R |
| Designation |
Professor |
| Affiliation |
Saveetha College of Physiotherapy |
| Address |
Room no. 5A1, Department of Sport Sciences, Health Science Block, 4th floor, Saveetha College of Physiotherapy, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Thandalam.
Room no. 5A1, Department of Sport Sciences, Health Science Block, 4th floor, Saveetha College of Physiotherapy, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Thandalam.
Kancheepuram
TAMIL NADU
602501
India |
| Phone |
8760563032 |
| Fax |
|
| Email |
vinodhkumar.scpt@saveetha.com |
|
Details of Contact Person
Public Query
|
| Name |
Dr Vinodh Kumar R |
| Designation |
Professor |
| Affiliation |
Saveetha College of Physiotherapy |
| Address |
Room no. 5A1, Department of Sport Sciences, Health Science Block, 4th floor, Saveetha College of Physiotherapy, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Thandalam.
Room no. 5A1, Department of Sport Sciences, Health Science Block, 4th floor, Saveetha College of Physiotherapy, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Thandalam.
Kancheepuram
TAMIL NADU
602501
India |
| Phone |
8760563032 |
| Fax |
|
| Email |
vinodhkumar.scpt@saveetha.com |
|
|
Source of Monetary or Material Support
|
| Saveetha College of Physiotherapy, Saveetha institute of Medical and Technical Sciences |
|
|
Primary Sponsor
|
| Name |
Govinda Vasan A |
| Address |
Room no. 5A1, Department of Sport Sciences, Health Science Block, 4th floor, Saveetha College of Physiotherapy, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Thandalam. |
| Type of Sponsor |
Other [Self] |
|
|
Details of Secondary Sponsor
|
|
|
Countries of Recruitment
|
India |
|
Sites of Study
|
| No of Sites = 1 |
| Name of Principal
Investigator |
Name of Site |
Site Address |
Phone/Fax/Email |
| Dr Govinda Vasan A |
Saveetha College of Physiotherapy |
Room no. 5A1, Department of Sport Sciences, Health Science Block, 4th floor, Saveetha College of Physiotherapy, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Thandalam.
Kancheepuram
TAMIL NADU |
9962186907
govindavasan16@gmail.com |
|
|
Details of Ethics Committee
|
| No of Ethics Committees= 1 |
| Name of Committee |
Approval Status |
| Institutional Scientific Review Board |
Approved |
|
|
Regulatory Clearance Status from DCGI
|
|
|
Health Condition / Problems Studied
|
| Health Type |
Condition |
| Healthy Human Volunteers |
groin pain |
|
|
Intervention / Comparator Agent
|
| Type |
Name |
Details |
| Intervention |
Hölmich PROTOCOL |
Weeks 1 to 2 - Module 1
Static Adduction with Knees Extended
Lie on back with legs straight
Place a ball between feet
Squeeze firmly and hold for 30 seconds
Do 10 repetitions with 30 seconds rest
Static Adduction with Knees Bent
Lie on back with knees bent and feet flat
Place a ball between knees
Squeeze knees together and hold for 30 seconds
Do 10 repetitions with 30 seconds rest
Abdominal Sit-Ups Straight and Oblique
Lie on back with knees bent
Lift upper body for straight sit-ups
Twist to each side for oblique sit-ups
Do 10 repetitions of each type for 5 sets
Rest for 1 minute between sets
Combined Sit-Up and Hip Flexion
Lie on back holding ball between knees
Perform sit-up and bring knees toward chest
Do 10 repetitions for 5 sets with 1 minute rest
Balance Training on Wobble Board
Stand on wobble board with feet apart
Maintain balance for 5 minutes
Progress by closing eyes or adding knee bends
Weeks 3 to 8 - Module 2
Continue Module 1 exercises every other day
Side-Lying Hip Abduction
Lift top leg up and lower slowly
10 repetitions for 5 sets on each leg
Side-Lying Hip Adduction
Lift bottom leg up and lower slowly
10 repetitions for 5 sets on each leg
Prone Back Extension
Lie face down and lift upper body
Do 10 repetitions for 5 sets
Standing Hip Abduction and Adduction
Use resistance band on ankle
Move leg outward and inward
Do 10 repetitions for 5 sets on each leg
Continue Sit-Ups as above
Single-Leg Cross-Country Motion
Stand on one leg
Move opposite leg and arms like skiing
Do 10 repetitions for 5 sets on each leg
Lateral Sliders on Sliding Board
Push side to side like skating
Slide for 1 minute then rest
Repeat 5 times
Balance Training on Wobble Board
Same as earlier
Instructions
All movements must be slow and controlled
Stop or modify if pain is more than mild
No adductor stretching allowed
Increase effort gradually
Running allowed pain-free from week 6
Return to sport from week 10 if pain-free |
| Comparator Agent |
Standard protocol |
1. Pain Management
Application of ice packs to the groin area for 10–15 minutes, 1–2 times per day, especially after activity.
Use of modalities such as interferential therapy (IFT) or ultrasound therapy, if indicated, for additional pain relief.
2. Stretching Exercises
Adductor muscle stretching: Gentle static stretching of the adductor group, held for 20–30 seconds, repeated 3–5 times per session.
Hamstring and hip flexor stretching: Included to maintain flexibility of surrounding muscle groups.
3. Strengthening Exercises
Isometric adductor contractions: Performed with a ball or pillow between the knees, holding for 5–10 seconds, 10 repetitions per set, 2–3 sets per session.
General lower limb strengthening: Including quadriceps, hamstrings, and gluteal muscles using body weight or resistance bands as tolerated.
4. Range of Motion (ROM) Exercises
Active and passive hip ROM exercises to maintain or improve joint mobility.
5. Functional and Balance Training
Simple balance exercises (e.g., single-leg stance) and gentle functional drills as tolerated.
6. Education and Activity Modification
Advice on avoiding aggravating activities and gradual return to sport.
Ergonomic and postural guidance during daily and sports activities.
Frequency and Duration
Sessions will be conducted 2–3 times per week for 8 weeks.
Each session will last approximately 45–60 minutes.
Progression
Exercises and activities will be progressed based on pain levels and individual tolerance, with the goal of gradually increasing intensity and complexity as symptoms improve.
|
|
|
Inclusion Criteria
|
| Age From |
18.00 Year(s) |
| Age To |
35.00 Year(s) |
| Gender |
Male |
| Details |
Active hockey players
Clinical diagnosis of chronic adductor-related groin pain |
|
| ExclusionCriteria |
| Details |
Acute groin injuries
Previous hip, pelvic, or lower limb surgery
Other musculoskeletal or neurological disorders affecting the lower limbs
Participation in other concurrent physiotherapy or rehabilitation programs for the groin
Any medical condition contraindicating participation in exercise
|
|
|
Method of Generating Random Sequence
|
Coin toss, Lottery, toss of dice, shuffling cards etc |
|
Method of Concealment
|
Sequentially numbered, sealed, opaque envelopes |
|
Blinding/Masking
|
Participant, Investigator, Outcome Assessor and Date-entry Operator Blinded |
|
Primary Outcome
|
| Outcome |
TimePoints |
| Adductor muscle strength (sphygmomanometer) |
8weeks |
|
|
Secondary Outcome
|
| Outcome |
TimePoints |
| HAGOS Questionnaire |
8weeks |
| VAS scale |
8weeks |
|
|
Target Sample Size
|
Total Sample Size="40"
Sample Size from India="40"
Final Enrollment numbers achieved (Total)= "Applicable only for Completed/Terminated trials"
Final Enrollment numbers achieved (India)="Applicable only for Completed/Terminated trials" |
|
Phase of Trial
|
N/A |
|
Date of First Enrollment (India)
|
07/10/2025 |
| Date of Study Completion (India) |
Applicable only for Completed/Terminated trials |
| Date of First Enrollment (Global) |
Date Missing |
| Date of Study Completion (Global) |
Applicable only for Completed/Terminated trials |
|
Estimated Duration of Trial
|
Years="0"
Months="2"
Days="0" |
|
Recruitment Status of Trial (Global)
|
Not Yet Recruiting |
| Recruitment Status of Trial (India) |
Not Yet Recruiting |
|
Publication Details
|
N/A |
|
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement
|
Will individual participant data (IPD) be shared publicly (including data dictionaries)?
Response - NO
|
|
Brief Summary
|
Groin injuries, particularly adductor-related, are common in sports involving rapid direction changes, such as hockey. Persistent pain can impair performance and lead to chronic disability. There is a paucity of evidence regarding the effectiveness of the Hölmich Protocol in the Indian context, necessitating this study. |