A new pelvic tilt detection device: Roentgenographic validation and application to assessment of hip motion in professional ice hockey players

Professional ice hockey players often sustain hip and low back strains. We hypothesized that playing the sport of ice hockey may result in the shortening of the iliopsoas muscles, increasing the likelihood of lumbosacral strains and hip injuries. The purpose of this study was to identify whether ice hockey players demonstrate a decrease in hip extension range of motion when compared with age-matched controls. Objective data were obtained using the Thomas test with an electrical circuit device to determine pelvic tilt motion. The device was validated by obtaining X-rays in six subjects during the Thomas test The study then examined 25 professional hockey players and 25 age-matched controls. A two-way analysis of variance was applied for statistical analysis to examine the effect of sport and side. The results demonstrated that ice hockey players have a reduced mean hip extension range of motion (p < .0001) by comparison with age-matched controls. There was no difference between right and left sides, nor was there any interaction of the sport with the side of the body. Therefore, hockey players demonstrated a decreased extensibility of the iliopsoas muscles. Future research may be directed toward establishing a link between prophylactic stretching and injury rate in professional ice hockey players.