Hip adductor capacity is important for running, sprinting, kicking, cutting, change of direction, skating, field sport and repeated lower-limb loading.
Adductor Raises provide a practical way to assess adductor strength endurance using minimal equipment. The test can be modified depending on the client’s capacity, using a bent-knee, short-lever or long-lever Copenhagen-style setup.
The result should be interpreted as an adductor endurance and capacity measure, not as a standalone diagnostic test for groin pain. Stronger interpretation comes from side-to-side comparison, baseline comparison, symptoms, movement quality, lever length and related hip strength or functional tests.
Test name: Adductor Raise Test
Alternative names: Adductor Raises, Copenhagen Adduction Test, Copenhagen Adductor Raise, Copenhagen Side Plank Adduction Test
Category: Hip adductor strength endurance
Primary score: Number of valid repetitions
Optional scores: Hold time, lever length, symptoms, movement quality, side-to-side difference
Best suited to: Field sport athletes, runners, cutting athletes, gym clients and lower-limb progress monitoring
Key limitation: Lever length, support height, trunk control, cadence and symptoms strongly influence results
Exercise bench, box or stable support surface
Exercise mat
Stopwatch or Measurz stopwatch
Optional Measurz metronome to standardise cadence
Optional Measurz rep counter to count valid repetitions
Optional Measurz AR measurement to document support height or setup
Optional inclinometer or video measurement if trunk or hip angle is being tracked
MAT tools such as Anker, Gripper or Muscle Meter for related hip adduction, abduction or lower-limb isometric strength testing
Measurz platform for recording side, repetitions, setup, symptoms, compensations and retest comparison
Select the appropriate variation: short-lever, bent-knee or long-lever Copenhagen-style adductor raise.
The client lies side-on to a bench or stable support.
The top leg is placed on the bench or support.
The lower leg starts underneath the body.
The client supports themselves on the forearm or hand, depending on the chosen variation.
The client lifts the pelvis into a side plank position.
The lower leg raises upward toward the top leg using hip adduction.
The lower leg lowers under control without resting heavily on the floor.
Continue at a consistent cadence until task failure.
Stop when the client cannot maintain pelvic position, cannot complete the required range, loses control, reports intolerable symptoms or chooses to stop.
Record valid repetitions for each side.
Record:
Left repetitions
Right repetitions
Dominant and non-dominant side
Side-to-side difference
Variation used
Lever length
Support height
Cadence
Pelvic control
Trunk control
Pain or symptoms
Compensations
Reason for stopping
A higher repetition count generally suggests better adductor strength endurance under that protocol.
However, interpretation should consider:
long-lever versus short-lever variation
support height
client body mass
trunk strength
shoulder support tolerance
cadence
adductor symptoms
groin symptoms
pelvic control
fatigue
previous exposure to the exercise
Side-to-side comparison is often more useful than a single universal cut-off.
There are no universally accepted normative repetition values for Adductor Raises across all populations.
Research on the Copenhagen Adduction Exercise supports its use as a high-demand hip adductor exercise, especially in field sport and groin-injury prevention contexts. Recent research has also explored strength-related measurement during the Copenhagen adduction task, suggesting that this task can be quantified when measurement methods are standardised.
Because repetition scores vary greatly depending on variation, lever length and cadence, the most useful comparisons are usually:
left versus right
baseline versus retest
short-lever versus long-lever progression
symptom response
quality of pelvic and trunk control
relationship to isometric hip adduction strength
relationship to sport or running demands
Use these broad field ranges only when the same Copenhagen-style variation, cadence and setup are used:
Excellent: 15+ controlled repetitions each side
Good: 10–14 repetitions
Moderate: 6–9 repetitions
Developing: 3–5 repetitions
Low current adductor endurance profile: under 3 repetitions
Excellent: 20+ controlled repetitions each side
Good: 15–19 repetitions
Moderate: 8–14 repetitions
Developing: 4–7 repetitions
Low current adductor endurance profile: under 4 repetitions
These are practical field categories, not diagnostic cut-offs.
A side-to-side difference greater than approximately 10–20% may be worth monitoring, especially if it aligns with symptoms, sport demands, reduced confidence or related strength findings.
Adductor Raises are based on the Copenhagen Adduction Exercise, which has been widely studied as a high-intensity adductor exercise.
Evidence supports the Copenhagen Adduction Exercise as a useful exercise for targeting hip adductors, particularly adductor longus activity and eccentric hip adduction strength. Sport research has also examined its role in groin injury risk-reduction programmes.
As a field test, reliability improves when:
the same variation is used
lever length is standardised
support height is recorded
cadence is standardised
valid repetition criteria are clear
symptoms are recorded
pelvic and trunk position are monitored
the same stopping rules are used
Validity depends on the purpose. Repetition-based Adductor Raises reflect adductor endurance and trunk-pelvis control under a bodyweight side-plank task, but they are not a pure isolated hip adductor strength measure.
For a stronger profile, combine the test with:
isometric hip adduction strength
adductor squeeze testing
hip abduction strength
lateral plank endurance
change-of-direction tasks
running or sport-specific load history
Common errors include:
using different lever lengths between tests
allowing the pelvis to drop
rotating the trunk
pushing excessively through the upper leg
counting partial repetitions
changing cadence
using an unstable bench
ignoring shoulder or trunk fatigue
testing through groin pain without appropriate caution
comparing short-lever and long-lever results directly
Limitations include:
high strength demand
shoulder and trunk support can limit performance
technique strongly affects score
not suitable for every painful presentation
no universal repetition norms
lever length changes difficulty substantially
symptoms may limit performance before adductor fatigue
not a standalone diagnostic test for groin pain
The Adductor Raise Test can help:
assess hip adductor endurance
compare left and right sides
monitor progress over time
guide adductor strengthening progressions
support groin capacity profiling
assess readiness for higher adductor loading
monitor field sport and running clients
compare endurance with isometric strength findings
It is especially useful for clients involved in:
football
soccer
rugby
hockey
basketball
tennis
running
skating
martial arts
change-of-direction sports
In Measurz / MAT, record:
test name
side tested
repetitions
variation used
lever length
support height
cadence
pain score
symptoms
pelvic control
trunk rotation
range quality
compensations
reason for stopping
retest date
The Measurz stopwatch can record total test time if needed. The Measurz metronome can standardise cadence, and the rep counter can help count valid repetitions consistently.
Measurz AR measurement can support setup consistency by recording bench height or body position references. MAT tools such as Anker, Gripper or Muscle Meter can add related isometric hip adduction or lower-limb strength data for a more complete profile.
Hip Adduction Strength
Adductor Squeeze Test
Hip Abduction Strength
Side Plank Test
Copenhagen Adduction Hold
Single-Leg Balance
Hop Tests
Change of Direction Tests
Isometric Groin Strength
Running Gait Checklist
It measures hip adductor strength endurance and trunk-pelvis control during a Copenhagen-style side plank task.
It is closely related. The test version uses the Copenhagen-style movement as a measurable repetition or endurance task.
Yes. Side-to-side comparison is highly useful.
This depends on the variation. For long-lever Adductor Raises, 10–15+ controlled repetitions may suggest good to excellent field endurance, but context and protocol matter.
No. It can support adductor capacity assessment, but it does not diagnose groin pain or identify the exact cause of symptoms.
Record it as the reason for stopping. Shoulder or trunk support can limit performance and should be considered in interpretation.
A metronome can improve repeatability. If used, record the cadence.
No. Many clients should begin with a short-lever or bent-knee variation before progressing to the long-lever version.
The Adductor Raise Test measures hip adductor endurance and trunk-pelvis control.
It is commonly performed using a Copenhagen-style setup.
Variation, lever length, support height and cadence strongly influence results.
Side-to-side comparison is often more useful than a universal cut-off.
Symptoms and reason for stopping should always be recorded.
Measurz can track repetitions, cadence, setup, symptoms and retest progress.
MAT strength tools can add related isometric strength data for a more complete profile.
Harøy, J., Clarsen, B., Wiger, E. G., Øyen, M. G., Serner, A., Thorborg, K., Hölmich, P., Andersen, T. E., & Bahr, R. (2019). The Adductor Strengthening Programme prevents groin problems among male football players: A cluster-randomised controlled trial. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 53(3), 150–157. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2017-098937
Light, N., Thorborg, K., Behan, S., et al. (2025). Measuring eccentric hip adductor strength during the Copenhagen adduction exercise: A test-retest reliability study. Physical Therapy in Sport. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ptsp.2025.03.001
Moreno-Pérez, V., Travassos, B., Calado, A., Gonzalo-Skok, O., Del Coso, J., & Mendez-Villanueva, A. (2020). Adductor squeeze test and groin injuries in elite football players: A prospective study. Physical Therapy in Sport, 45, 54–59.
Schaber, M., Guiser, Z., Brauer, J., et al. (2021). The neuromuscular effects of the Copenhagen Adductor Exercise: A systematic review. International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy, 16(5), 1210–1221. https://doi.org/10.26603/001c.27975
Serner, A., Jakobsen, M. D., Andersen, L. L., Hölmich, P., Sundstrup, E., & Thorborg, K. (2014). EMG evaluation of hip adduction exercises for soccer players: Implications for exercise selection in prevention and treatment of groin injuries. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 48(14), 1108–1114. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2012-091746
