Characterization of hip passive stiffness of volleyball, basketball and futsal young athletes

Objectives(1) To establish the reference values of the test of ‘Position of hip passive resistance against gravity’ (PHPR) in young athletes; (2) To investigate differences between the values of PHPR test according to athlete's sex, age and sport practiced.DesignCross-sectional.SettingSports club.Participants282 Volleyball, basketball and futsal athletes aged between 10 and 18 years.Main outcome measuresHip passive stiffness was measured through PHPR test, which provides indirect information regarding this tissue property; high stiffness means low corresponding test values.ResultsThe mean values of PHPR test ranged from 0.41 to 1.06°/kg. The test results were different among all age categories and the values were lower in older athletes (p < 0.001). The PHPR test values of futsal players were lower than basketball players only in the intermediate age category (p = 0.001). The female volleyball athletes had higher values than the male ones (p < 0.001).ConclusionThis study established reference values for PHPR test in young athletes, which allow therapists to obtain information regarding hip passive stiffness by means of a clinical test. Hip passive stiffness in young athletes increases with age, and female volleyball players showed lower values of this property compared with males.