Hip Adductor/Abductor Strength Ratio Calculator
Written by Thierno Sadou Diallo, formula verified per our methodology • Last checked on 9/9/2026
The adductor/abductor ratio is calculated with adductor strength ÷ abductor strength × 100. A ratio below 80% is associated with an increased risk of groin injury. For 24 kg of adductor strength and 30 kg of abductor strength, the ratio is exactly 80%.
Explanation
The hip adductor/abductor strength ratio compares the strength of the muscles that pull the leg toward the body's midline (adductors, whose most common injury in athletes is an adductor strain, often called a "groin pull") to that of the muscles that move it away (abductors, notably the gluteus medius). A landmark study on professional ice hockey players (Tyler et al.) found that a ratio below 80% in the preseason predicted an increased risk of groin injury during the season: injured players had an average ratio of 78% versus 95% for their uninjured teammates. This imbalance is particularly watched in sports with frequent changes of direction and a wide range of hip motion (ice hockey, soccer, Australian football), where the adductors are worked explosively and repeatedly. A targeted adductor-strengthening program, when this ratio is low, has also been shown to reduce the incidence of these injuries in the same population of players. As with our shoulder rotator strength ratio calculator, this threshold remains a screening benchmark drawn from a specific athletic population, not a universal rule valid for every profile or sport.
Example: adductors 24 kg, abductors 30 kg
Inputs
Adductor strength: 24 kg. Abductor strength: 30 kg.
Calculation
Ratio = (24 ÷ 30) × 100 = 80%.
Result
This 80% ratio falls exactly at the threshold generally cited as a risk benchmark.
Frequently asked questions
Why does this ratio focus on adductors rather than abductors?
Because the most common and best-documented injury in this context is an adductor strain (often called a groin pull in everyday sports language), not an abductor injury. The ratio therefore serves to spot whether the adductors are relatively too weak compared with the abductors, an imbalance statistically associated with this type of injury.
How do you precisely measure adductor and abductor strength?
The reference method uses a handheld dynamometer (a manual force sensor), with the leg lying in a neutral position, pushing against the sensor either inward (adductors) or outward (abductors). The exact test position and how the pelvis is stabilized both influence the result: reproducing the same position from one test to the next is essential for consistent tracking over time.
What should be done if my ratio is below 80%?
A targeted adductor-strengthening program (such as Copenhagen adduction exercises) has been shown to reduce the incidence of groin injuries in athletes who initially had a low ratio. This calculator remains a screening tool, not a diagnosis: advice from a sports physiotherapist remains the best resource for building a program suited to your profile.
Are there other strength ratios monitored for injury prevention?
Yes: our strength-to-weight ratio calculator offers a different kind of strength benchmark, relating raw strength to body weight rather than comparing two opposing muscle groups.