Chronic effect of hip thrust exercise compared with control or squat on perfomance of soccer player: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Abstract

Soccer requires a wide range of physical, technical, and tactical skills and is one of the most popular and widely practiced sports worldwide. Among the physical aspects, strength, power, and endurance of the lower limbs are essential for key actions in the game, such as sprints, jumps, quick direction changes, and powerful kicks. The strength of the hip extensor muscles, especially the glutes, is crucial for maximizing athletic performance. In this context, the hip thrust exercise has become an effective intervention for strengthening these muscle groups due to its specific activation capability. Performed in a supine position, the exercise involves lifting the hips, generating intense contraction in the glutes and hamstrings, muscles essential for force production, acceleration, and stability during typical soccer movements. Recent studies highlight that hip thrust not only increases strength but also improves speed, power, and reaction capacity in players. The study in question conducted a systematic review to investigate the impact of hip thrust on soccer players' physical performance, rigorously following protocols to ensure transparency and methodological quality. Studies were included from scientific databases like PubMed and Web of Science, focusing on randomized clinical trials and longitudinal intervention studies on the effect of hip thrust in players across different categories. The analysis included three key studies showing consistent improvements in athletes' physical performance. One study showed that sub-elite athletes made significant advances in 10m and 20m sprints, as well as gains in maximal strength and agility after an eight-week hip thrust program. Another study observed increases in sprint speed and vertical jump performance in collegiate-level female soccer players who followed a barbell hip thrust program. A third study demonstrated improvements in shot power and acceleration in U-17 players after 20 weeks of training focused on this exercise. Although the results point to the benefits of hip thrust in developing strength, power, and speed, the review identified methodological variations, such as small sample sizes and a lack of appropriate control groups, which may have influenced the results. To improve the validity of the findings, it is recommended that future research adopt stricter methodological rigor, with larger samples and more standardized training protocols. It is concluded that including hip thrust in soccer training programs can represent an important tool for maximizing athletic performance, particularly in actions requiring power, such as sprints.