The Hip Adduction Strength Test measures how much force a client can produce when moving the thigh toward the midline against resistance. It is commonly used to assess hip adductor force output in a controlled isometric setup.
Hip adduction strength can provide useful context for walking, running, kicking, cutting, sprinting, skating, change of direction, groin load tolerance, trunk-pelvis control, lower-limb force transfer and progress tracking. The main contributors include adductor longus, adductor brevis, adductor magnus, gracilis, pectineus and trunk or pelvis stabilisers that help control body position.
The Muscle Meter is a handheld dynamometry tool used to measure force output during push, pull and isometric strength assessments. When used on its own, the Muscle Meter primarily measures peak force, which is the highest force value produced during the test. When used with Measurz, Muscle Meter data can be recorded and analysed with a broader set of strength and force-time metrics, including peak force, impulse, torque, rate of torque development, rate of force development, time to peak and fatigue index.
For routine hip adduction testing, peak force is usually the main metric. Force as a percentage of body weight may be useful if directly calculated from the client’s test force and body weight, especially for baseline comparison, side-to-side comparison and retesting. Rate of force development and time to peak may be useful when rapid groin and hip force production matters, such as kicking, cutting, skating or change of direction. Impulse may be useful if sustained hip adduction force over a defined time window is intentionally tested. Fatigue index is only relevant if repeated or sustained hip adduction efforts are part of the protocol.
The result can support assessment reasoning and progress tracking, but it does not diagnose adductor strain, groin pain source, hip joint pathology, pubic-related pain, nerve involvement or readiness for sport or work on its own.
The Hip Adduction Strength Test is an isometric lower-limb strength assessment where the client pushes the thigh inward into the Muscle Meter, strap or fixed setup without visible hip movement. It may also be performed as a squeeze test, where the Muscle Meter or device is positioned between the knees, distal thighs or ankles and the client squeezes inward.
The movement direction is hip adduction. The purpose of the test is to measure how much inward force the client can produce through the hip in a specific position.
Consistent setup matters because pelvis position, trunk position, hip angle, knee angle, lever length, device placement, strap angle, squeeze position and client effort can all affect the result. This test measures force output in a specific setup. It does not fully measure kicking ability, skating ability, groin tissue capacity, dynamic change of direction, running ability, endurance, power or sport/work readiness on its own.
Explain that the test measures how strongly they can push the leg inward or squeeze into the Muscle Meter. Record baseline symptoms, groin discomfort, medial thigh symptoms, hip symptoms, lower-back symptoms, fatigue, recent activity, training load and confidence with maximal effort.
Use at least one submaximal practice trial so the client understands the direction of force and learns to push or squeeze without trunk or pelvis compensation.
A common push-test setup is side-lying, supine or standing depending on the available equipment and professional question. A common squeeze setup is supine with the device between the knees, distal thighs or ankles.
Record:
Push test or squeeze test
Side-lying, supine, standing or other position
Test side, or bilateral squeeze setup
Hip angle
Knee angle
Pelvis position
Trunk position
Device contact point
Whether a strap, fixed anchor or squeeze setup was used
For side-lying or supine testing, the pelvis should remain stable. For squeeze testing, record whether the device is between the knees, distal thighs or ankles, because force values change depending on lever length and position.
For a handheld push setup, the professional holds the Muscle Meter against the medial thigh while the client pushes inward. For stronger clients or improved repeatability, a strap-stabilised or fixed setup may be used.
For a squeeze setup, place the Muscle Meter or device between the knees, distal thighs or ankles. Ensure the contact point is comfortable and repeatable.
If using a strap, record:
Anchor point
Strap angle
Strap length
Device position
Limb position
Whether any pre-tension was used
Whether the anchor moved during testing
Push, pull, handheld, strap-stabilised and squeeze scores should be recorded separately unless the protocol supports direct comparison.
For a push test, place the Muscle Meter against the medial thigh, knee region or ankle region depending on the chosen protocol. For a squeeze test, place the device between the thighs, knees or ankles.
The force direction should be hip adduction. The client should push or squeeze inward without rotating the pelvis, rolling the trunk or using the opposite limb to create extra movement.
Stabilise the pelvis and trunk so the client does not compensate with lumbar side-bending, trunk rotation, hip flexion, hip extension, pelvic rolling or pushing through the opposite leg.
For squeeze testing, ensure the pelvis remains level and the client does not bridge, rotate or brace heavily through the arms.
The aim is controlled hip adduction force in the chosen position.
Use consistent instructions such as:
“Push your leg inward into the device as hard as you can and hold.”
“Build up smoothly, then push hard.”
“Keep your pelvis and trunk still.”
“Do not roll your body or twist your hip.”
“Keep breathing.”
“Tell me if you feel pain, cramping, tingling or anything unusual.”
For a squeeze test, use:
“Squeeze the device as hard as you can and hold.”
“Keep your pelvis still and avoid lifting your hips.”
“Tell me if you feel groin pain or symptoms.”
Use the same wording at retest where possible.
Use 1–2 practice trials, then record 2–3 maximal trials. A common contraction duration is 3–5 seconds. Rest for 30–60 seconds between trials, or longer if symptoms, fatigue or cramping occur.
Record whether the final score uses the best trial or the average of recorded trials. Either approach may be used if it is applied consistently.
Repeat or mark a trial as invalid if:
The pelvis rolls or lifts
The trunk leans or rotates
The hip flexes or extends during the effort
The knee angle changes
The device slips
The strap or anchor moves
The client bridges during squeeze testing
The client pushes through the opposite leg
Pain or cramping limits effort
The client starts before the device is ready
The client holds their breath excessively
The professional cannot hold the device steady
Record groin pain, medial thigh discomfort, hip symptoms, lower-back symptoms, cramping, paraesthesia, confidence, apprehension and symptom response after testing. Do not repeatedly test through high pain, worsening symptoms or strong cramping.
For retesting, match the same position, device placement, strap or squeeze setup, instructions, contraction duration, rest period, scoring method and symptom recording.
The Hip Adduction Strength Test is used to quantify hip adductor force output in a repeatable setup. It may be useful for:
Baseline lower-limb strength assessment
Side-to-side comparison
Monitoring change over time
Hip and groin strength profiling
Comparing adduction with abduction where relevant
Supporting running, kicking, cutting and skating assessment reasoning
Monitoring adductor squeeze force and symptom response over time
Workplace context where walking, stairs, ladders, lifting or prolonged standing are relevant
Fitness and performance progress tracking
Client education
The test should support assessment reasoning. It should not be used as a stand-alone diagnostic or clearance measure.
The test primarily measures isometric hip adduction force output in the chosen setup. It reflects the client’s ability to produce inward thigh force through the hip adductors while controlling pelvis and trunk position.
It may provide useful information about:
Hip adduction force capacity
Adductor contribution
Squeeze force
Side-to-side force difference
Adduction-to-abduction comparison
Confidence producing groin and hip force
Pain response during resisted hip adduction
Change in force over time
Relationship between strength and related movement tasks
It does not directly measure:
Cause of groin pain
Adductor tissue integrity
Hip joint pathology
Pubic-related pain
Nerve involvement
Kicking ability
Cutting ability
Endurance
Readiness to return to sport or work
A higher score may suggest greater hip adduction force output in that specific test setup. A lower score may suggest reduced hip adduction force output, but the reason should be interpreted carefully.
Lower force may be influenced by pain, apprehension, poor familiarisation, fatigue, guarding, inconsistent device placement, poor pelvis stabilisation, reduced confidence, groin symptoms, lower-back symptoms or compensation from the trunk or opposite limb.
One result should not be interpreted in isolation. Interpretation is strongest when the same setup is repeated over time and reviewed alongside symptoms, confidence, hip range of motion, abduction strength, squeeze pain response, single-leg balance, gait, running exposure, kicking, cutting or work-specific tasks.
Important influences include:
Pain
Apprehension
Poor familiarisation
Fatigue
Guarding
Poor pelvis or trunk stabilisation
Pelvis rolling
Trunk leaning
Different hip angle
Different knee angle
Different device placement
Different strap angle
Squeeze position
Lever length
Breath holding
Client confidence
Professional strength if using handheld resistance
Published Muscle Meter-specific universal norms for hip adduction are limited. Reference values should therefore be used as context only and not as direct targets unless the protocol is closely matched.
More user-friendly comparison data include:
In a sample of 52 women aged 20–29 years, hip adductor force measured with handheld dynamometry was reported at approximately 16.89% of body weight, with a reported range of about 16.11–17.68% body weight. This means a 70 kg person in a similar setup would produce roughly 11–12 kg of force, but this should only be used as broad context unless the protocol is closely matched.
In a long-lever hip adduction squeeze study, healthy adults recorded adduction squeeze values around 175 N during intra-tester testing. In practical terms, this is roughly similar to 18 kg of force.
In the same study’s inter-tester sample, healthy young male participants recorded adduction squeeze values around 274–278 N, or roughly 28 kg of force. This sample and long-lever squeeze setup may produce different results from a unilateral medial-thigh Muscle Meter push test.
The same study reported good reliability for maximal hip adduction squeeze testing, with intra-tester reliability around ICC 0.92 and inter-tester reliability around ICC 0.93 for peak force. This supports the value of a consistent squeeze protocol and familiarisation.
For side-to-side comparison in unilateral testing, a difference of around 10% or more is often worth reviewing more closely, especially if it matches symptoms, previous injury, confidence changes or functional differences. This is not a strict pass/fail cut-off.
Comparing adduction with abduction can also be useful. Large differences between directions may provide context, especially when paired with symptoms, running, kicking, cutting, balance or work demands.
If force is recorded as a percentage of body weight in Measurz, use it mainly for the client’s own baseline, side-to-side comparison and retesting. Bodyweight percentage is useful only when calculated from the client’s actual test force and body weight.
These values are best used as comparison data. They can help provide context, but they should not be used as diagnostic, clearance or pass/fail cut-offs.
Use this order:
Compare with the client’s own baseline.
Compare right and left sides when relevant.
Compare hip adduction and abduction where relevant.
Review force relative to body weight where calculated.
Consider symptoms during and after testing.
Consider confidence and effort quality.
Review whether compensations were present.
Compare with related strength, mobility or performance tests.
Relate the result to walking, running, kicking, cutting, sport, work or daily-life demands.
Retest under the same conditions to monitor change.
Do not use reference values as pass/fail criteria.
Peak force
Use for maximum hip adduction force output, baseline strength, side-to-side comparison, adduction-to-abduction comparison, progress tracking and comparing force across retests. Look for best score or average score, consistent setup, side-to-side difference, change from baseline, pain response and compensation during maximal effort.
Force as percentage of body weight
Use when calculated directly from test force and body weight. It may help compare the client’s result to their own baseline, the opposite side and body size. Do not treat it as a universal target unless the comparison data use a closely matched protocol.
Torque
Use only when the lever arm is measured and a more biomechanical interpretation is needed. It can help when limb length or device placement changes the raw force reading. It should not be used as normative data unless the reference data match the setup closely.
Rate of force development
Use when rapid hip adduction force matters, such as kicking, cutting, sprinting, skating or change of direction. Look for early force production and whether rate of force development changes while peak force stays similar.
Time to peak
Use to understand whether force is produced quickly or gradually. Look for delayed peak force, faster time to peak across retests, and whether a slower time reflects caution, pain, poor cueing or an actual performance difference.
Impulse
Use only if a defined sustained force window is intentionally tested. Look for whether the client can sustain hip adduction force briefly and whether impulse improves while peak force stays similar.
Fatigue index
Use only if repeated or sustained hip adduction efforts are part of the protocol. Look for drop-off across repeated trials, symptom-related fatigue and whether fatigue improves across a training block.
Youth clients
Consider growth, maturation, coordination, attention, training age and familiarisation. Practice trials are important because maximal hip adduction effort can be difficult to coordinate without pelvis movement.
Adults and general fitness clients
Use the test for baseline lower-limb strength, progress tracking and confidence with loading. Compare results with hip mobility, lower-limb strength and general exercise goals.
Older adults
Consider walking confidence, transfers, stairs, balance, fatigue, rest periods and function. A lower score may provide useful context, but it should not be interpreted without functional assessment.
Athletes and sport clients
Consider running, kicking, cutting, sprinting, skating, acceleration, deceleration and change-of-direction demands. Peak force alone does not equal sport performance, but it can support a broader lower-limb and groin strength profile.
Workplace and manual task clients
Consider stairs, ladders, carrying, prolonged standing, uneven ground, walking distance and footwear demands. Do not use one score to clear work duties.
Clients returning after injury
Use the test to monitor force output, confidence and symptom response. Strength alone should not confirm readiness.
Clients with pain or persistent symptoms
Pain, fear, guarding, fatigue, apprehension and confidence may reduce force. Record symptom response carefully and compare with related tests.
Higher body mass clients
Absolute force and force relative to body mass may both be useful. Interpret results in relation to goals, symptoms and functional demands, not assumptions about body size.
Repeatability improves when the same setup is used each time. Record and standardise:
Same test position
Same pelvis position
Same trunk position
Same hip angle
Same knee angle
Same squeeze position, if used
Same device placement
Same strap setup, if used
Same anchor height and distance, if straps are used
Same strap angle, if straps are used
Same stabilisation
Same instructions
Same contraction duration
Same rest period
Same scoring method
Same symptom and compensation recording
Hip adduction strength testing is highly setup-dependent. Small changes in device placement, squeeze position, limb angle or pelvis control can change the score. For stronger clients, handheld resistance may be limited by professional strength. Strap-stabilised, fixed or squeeze setups can improve repeatability when used consistently.
Common errors include:
Pelvis rolling
Trunk leaning
Bridging during squeeze testing
Hip flexion or extension compensation
Opposite-leg contribution
Device placement changing between trials
Squeeze position changing between trials
Strap or anchor movement
Breath holding
Testing through high pain or cramping
Comparing different protocols directly
Treating the score as a diagnosis
Limitations include:
Testing is setup-dependent
Manual resistance may be limited by professional strength
Muscle Meter-specific universal norms may be limited
Published hip adduction norms vary by device, position and population
Squeeze tests and unilateral push tests should not be compared as if identical
Pain, fear or guarding can reduce force output
Peak force does not measure endurance or movement quality
Strong symmetry does not automatically indicate readiness for sport or work
The Hip Adduction Strength Test may be useful for:
Baseline hip and groin strength assessment
Side-to-side comparison
Monitoring response to exercise or intervention
Comparing adduction with abduction where relevant
Supporting running, kicking, cutting and skating assessment reasoning
Comparing with hip mobility, trunk control and functional tasks
Sport and workplace strength profiling
Client education
Fitness and performance progress tracking
If force is low on both sides, consider assessing hip range of motion, abduction strength, trunk control, gait, running exposure, recent workload and confidence with loading.
If one side is much lower, compare with symptoms, injury history, abduction strength, hip mobility, single-leg tasks, kicking, cutting and work or sport demands.
If squeeze force is painful, record the pain response, device position and hip angle. Compare with other hip and groin findings rather than relying on one score.
If force is good but function is limited, compare with gait, single-leg tasks, sprinting, cutting, kicking, skating, workload and task exposure.
If the client is improving, keep the same test setup and monitor whether force, symptoms, confidence and function improve together.
Position: Side-lying, supine, standing or squeeze position, with pelvis and trunk controlled
Start position: Hip and knee position recorded
Joint or trunk angle: Record hip, knee, pelvis and trunk position
Trials: 1–2 practice trials, then 2–3 recorded trials
Contraction duration: 3–5 seconds
Rest: 30–60 seconds between efforts
Metric: Peak force, plus percentage of body weight if directly calculated
Attachment or device setup: Muscle Meter against medial thigh for push testing, or between thighs/knees/ankles for squeeze testing
Final score: Best trial or average of trials
Key retesting requirement: Same test type, body position, device placement, squeeze position, instructions, contraction duration, rest and scoring method
It measures isometric hip adduction force output in a specific test setup.
No. A unilateral push test and a bilateral squeeze test can both measure hip adduction force, but they use different positions and should be recorded separately.
It can be if you calculate it directly from test force and body weight. This is useful for internal comparison, especially when tracking change over time.
Published universal Muscle Meter norms for this exact protocol appear limited. Baseline, side-to-side comparison and repeated testing are usually more useful.
Published examples include hip adduction around 16.89% body weight in young women and long-lever hip adduction squeeze values around 175–278 N in healthy adult samples. These are not direct Muscle Meter targets unless the protocol is closely matched.
No. It can measure force output and symptom response, but it does not diagnose a condition or explain symptoms on its own.
Pelvis rolling, trunk leaning, bridging, different hip angles, device slipping, pain, fatigue and inconsistent instructions can affect results.
Record side or squeeze setup, body position, hip angle, knee angle, device placement, peak force, percentage bodyweight if calculated, symptoms, compensations, confidence, scoring method and related findings.
The Hip Adduction Strength Test measures isometric hip adduction force output.
Peak force is usually the main routine Muscle Meter metric.
Published comparison examples include about 16.89% body weight and 175–278 N, but protocols vary.
Squeeze tests and unilateral push tests should not be treated as identical.
Percentage of body weight should only be used when calculated directly from force and body weight.
Baseline comparison, side-to-side comparison and retesting consistency are usually more useful than broad norms.
Measurz should capture setup, symptoms, bodyweight-normalised values where calculated, compensations and retesting conditions.
Ishøi, L., Thorborg, K., Krohn, L., Andersen, L. L., Nielsen, A. M., & Clausen, M. B. (2023). Maximal and explosive muscle strength during hip adduction squeeze and hip abduction press test using a handheld dynamometer: An intra- and inter-tester reliability study. International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy, 18(4), 905–916. https://doi.org/10.26603/001c.83259
Thorborg, K., Bandholm, T., Schick, M., Jensen, J., & Hölmich, P. (2013). Hip strength assessment using handheld dynamometry is subject to intertester bias when testers are of different sex and strength. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 23(4), 487–493. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0838.2011.01405.x
Thorborg, K., Branci, S., Nielsen, M. P., Tang, L., Nielsen, M. B., & Hölmich, P. (2017). Copenhagen five-second squeeze: A valid indicator of sports-related hip and groin function. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 51(7), 594–599. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2016-096675
World Physiotherapy. (2019). Normative values for isometric hip muscle force assessed by hand-held dynamometry. World Physiotherapy Congress Proceedings.
