Investigation of the correlation between the ability to change direction and the development of the hip musculature of the Hungarian National Handball Academy’s adolescent men’s handball players

Background Hip adductor weakness is a common risk factor for groin injuries among adolescent male handball players. Targeted hip strengthening may improve functional performance and reduce injury risk. Material and methods 29 elite male handball players (aged 14-17) from the Hungarian National Handball Academy participated in a prospective, controlled study. 14 players completed an 8-week hip-focused training program, while 15 served as controls. Pre- and post-tests assessed hip adductor strength (ergoFET), dynamic balance (Y-Balance test), core stability (side and Copenhagen plank), and change of direction speed (5-10-5 CODS test). Statistical analysis included t-tests, ANOVA, ANCOVA (age as covariate), and correlation analysis. Results The intervention group showed significant improvements in hip adductor strength (<i>p</i><0.01), balance (<i>p</i><0.01), and agility at 10 m and 20 m distances (<i>p</i><0.05), with strong correlations between adductor strength and both balance and CODS performance. No significant changes were observed in FMS scores. Conclusions The 8-week training program effectively improved hip adductor strength, dynamic balance, and directional change speed in adolescent handball players. These results support the integration of specific hip strengthening exercises into youth athletic training to enhance performance and reduce injury risk.