The Hip Adduction Strength Test measures the maximum isometric force produced during hip adduction with the hip positioned at approximately 45° of flexion. Using the Anker, the assessment provides an objective and repeatable measure of hip adductor strength in a mid-range hip position.
Testing hip adduction at 45° can provide useful information between neutral hip testing and 90° hip flexion testing. This position may be relevant for clients involved in running, cutting, kicking, skating, field sport, court sport and lower-limb strength profiling, where the hip often works through a range of flexion angles.
The primary muscles assessed include adductor magnus, adductor longus, adductor brevis, gracilis and pectineus. These muscles contribute to pelvic control, lower-limb alignment, force transfer and frontal plane stability.
When used with Measurz, the Anker records peak force and can calculate additional metrics including force relative to body weight, impulse, torque when the lever arm is entered, rate of force development, time to peak and fatigue index.
The assessment measures muscle force only and should always be interpreted alongside symptoms, movement quality and functional performance.
The Hip Adduction Strength Test is an isometric assessment where the client attempts to draw the testing leg towards the midline while the hip is positioned at approximately 45° of flexion.
Testing at 45° may be useful because hip adductor force production can change depending on joint position. This angle gives a mid-range position that may be easier to standardise than more dynamic or sport-specific tasks while still providing useful strength information.
The Anker allows the test to be repeated consistently when the same client position, hip angle, load cell contact point and instructions are used during every assessment.
Explain that the assessment measures how strongly they can pull their leg towards the middle while keeping the pelvis and trunk still.
Record any:
groin pain
hip pain
lower abdominal discomfort
previous adductor injury
recent injury
previous surgery
stiffness
neurological symptoms
fatigue
Complete one or two submaximal practice contractions before maximal testing.
Position the client according to the Anker setup, maintaining:
hip flexed to approximately 45°
knee comfortably flexed if required by setup
pelvis level
trunk supported
opposite limb positioned symmetrically
testing limb relaxed before the contraction
The same position should be reproduced during every reassessment.
Ensure:
the pelvis remains square
the femur is aligned with the hip joint
the knee remains in line with the thigh
the limb begins in a neutral position
Position the Anker load cell against the medial aspect of the distal femur, approximately 5 cm proximal to the medial femoral epicondyle.
Avoid direct contact over the knee joint, medial femoral epicondyle or soft tissue close to the joint line.
Using the distal femur as the contact point helps standardise the lever arm and improves repeatability across retesting.
Prevent movement of:
pelvis
trunk
lumbar spine
opposite limb
testing thigh position
The effort should be produced by hip adduction only, not by trunk lean, pelvic rotation or pushing through the foot.
Use consistent verbal cues.
"Pull your leg towards the middle."
"Build the pressure gradually."
"Push as hard as you can."
"Hold."
"Keep breathing."
Use the same wording during every reassessment.
Use:
1–2 familiarisation trials
2–3 maximal trials
3–5 second contraction
30–60 seconds rest between trials
Record either:
highest force value, or
average of recorded trials
Use the same scoring method during every reassessment.
the pelvis rotates
the trunk leans
the testing thigh lifts
the opposite limb assists
the hip angle changes
the load cell slips
the client pushes through the foot instead of the thigh
pain limits maximal effort
the client starts before instructed
The Hip Adduction Strength Test may be useful for:
establishing baseline adductor strength
comparing left and right limbs
assessing strength across different hip angles
monitoring changes over time
lower-limb strength profiling
athlete performance monitoring
objective progress tracking in Measurz
client education using measurable results
The assessment should support a broader assessment process and should not be used as a stand-alone diagnostic or clearance measure.
The primary outcome is peak isometric hip adduction force with the hip positioned at approximately 45° of flexion.
When analysed in Measurz, additional metrics may include:
Peak force
Force relative to body weight
Impulse
Torque
Rate of force development
Time to peak
Fatigue index
The assessment does not directly measure:
adductor tendon integrity
hip joint structure
range of motion
movement quality
balance
sprinting performance
readiness for sport or work
Higher force values generally indicate greater hip adduction strength in the tested position.
Lower force values may reflect:
groin pain
hip pain
fatigue
reduced confidence
previous injury
poor familiarisation
inconsistent positioning
compensation from the trunk or pelvis
Interpret results by considering:
the client’s previous results
left versus right differences
symptoms during and after testing
confidence during the effort
whether the same hip angle and contact point were used
sport, work or daily-life demands
Published Anker-specific normative values are currently unavailable.
Hip adduction strength has been studied with handheld dynamometry, particularly in athletic populations, but values vary according to position, lever arm, stabilisation and scoring method. Because the 45° Anker setup may not directly match published protocols, comparison with the client’s own baseline and repeated testing under the same conditions is usually more useful than applying external cut-offs.
A side-to-side difference of approximately 10% or more may be worth reviewing more closely, especially when it aligns with pain, previous injury, reduced confidence or functional differences.
Youth
Use additional familiarisation trials and interpret results relative to growth, coordination, sport exposure and training age.
Adults
Useful for baseline strength testing, progress tracking and side-to-side comparison.
Older adults
Interpret alongside walking ability, balance, transfers, hip comfort and functional confidence.
Athletes
Relevant for sports requiring sprinting, kicking, cutting, skating, lateral movement and repeated acceleration.
Clients with persistent symptoms
Interpret alongside pain, confidence, movement quality and functional capacity rather than strength alone.
Common errors include:
pelvis rotating
trunk leaning
changing the hip angle during the test
inconsistent load cell placement
pressing through the foot instead of the thigh
lifting the testing limb
inconsistent cueing
comparing 45°, 90° and 0° results as though they are the same test
Limitations include:
results are specific to the testing position
pain may reduce maximal force production
strength alone does not determine function
published Anker-specific normative values remain limited
different hip angles should be tracked separately
The assessment may be useful for:
establishing baseline adductor strength
comparing left and right limbs
monitoring progress over time
assessing strength across hip positions
athlete monitoring
lower-limb strength profiling
objective reporting within Measurz
educating clients using measurable outcomes
It measures maximal isometric hip adduction strength with the hip positioned at approximately 45° of flexion.
Testing at 45° provides a mid-range hip position and may help profile adductor strength across different joint angles.
No. Different hip angles should be recorded and interpreted separately because muscle contribution and force output may change with position.
Peak force is the primary routine outcome measure.
Yes. Bilateral testing allows side-to-side comparison and improves progress tracking.
No. It measures force only and should be interpreted alongside symptoms and other assessment findings.
Measures maximal isometric hip adduction strength at approximately 45° hip flexion.
Provides a mid-range adductor strength assessment between 0° and 90° positions.
Peak force is the primary routine outcome measure.
Measurz can provide additional force-time metrics when used with the Anker.
Consistent hip angle, load cell placement and cueing are essential for repeatability.
Compare results with the client’s own baseline and opposite limb rather than relying on broad population norms.
Bohannon, R. W. (1997). Reference values for extremity muscle strength obtained by hand-held dynamometry from adults aged 20 to 79 years. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 78(1), 26–32.
Mentiplay, B. F., Perraton, L. G., Bower, K. J., Adair, B., Pua, Y. H., Williams, G. P., McGaw, R., & Clark, R. A. (2015). Assessment of lower limb muscle strength and power using hand-held and fixed dynamometry: A reliability and validity study. PLOS ONE, 10(10), e0140822.
Thorborg, K., Bandholm, T., Hölmich, P., et al. (2011). Hip adduction and abduction strength assessment using handheld dynamometry in athletic populations. British Journal of Sports Medicine.
