Table 1.

Adductor strain postinjury program.

Phase 1: Acute	First 48 hours after injury: RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation)
	Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
	Massage
	Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation
	Ultrasound
	Submaximal isometric adduction with knees bent → with knees straight progressing to maximal isometric adduction, pain free
	Hip passive range of motion in pain-free range
	Nonweightbearing hip progressive resistance exercises without weight in antigravity position (all except abduction): pain free, low load, high repetition
	Upper body and trunk strengthening
	Contralateral lower extremity strengthening
	Flexibility program for noninvolved muscles
	Bilateral balance board
Clinical milestone	Concentric adduction against gravity without pain
Phase 2: Subacute	Bicycling/swimming
	Sumo squats
	Single-limb stance
	Concentric adduction with weight against gravity
	Standing with involved foot on sliding board moving in frontal plane
	Adduction in standing on cable column or resistance band
	Seated adduction machine
	Bilateral adduction on sliding board moving in frontal plane (ie, simultaneous bilateral adduction)
	Unilateral lunges (sagittal) with reciprocal arm movements
	Multiplane trunk tilting
	Balance board squats with throwbacks
	General flexibility program
Clinical milestone	Lower extremity passive range of motion equal to that of the uninvolved side and involved adductor strength at least 75% that of the ipsilateral abductors
Phase 3: Sports-specific training	Phase II exercises with increase in load, intensity, speed and volume
	Standing resisted stride lengths on cable column to simulate skating
	Slide board
	On ice kneeling adductor pull togethers
	Lunges (in all planes)
	Correct or modify ice skating technique
Clinical milestone	Adduction strength at least 90-100% of the abduction strength and involved muscle strength equal to that of the contralateral side