Objective The Copenhagen Adduction Exercise (CAE) has been studied in football players to determine its impact on strength gains. We aimed to examine the effects of the CAE on eccentric hip adduction (EHAD) strength and the eccentric adduction-to-abduction strength ratio in elite adolescent taekwondo athletes. Materials and methods Twenty-three elite taekwondo athletes (9 females, 14 males, mean age 16.43 ± 1.8 years) were included in the study. All athletes received progressive CAE training in addition to their regular taekwondo training for 8 weeks. Eccentric hip abduction (EHAB) and EHAD muscle strengths were assessed with a handheld dynamometer at baseline, at the 4th week and the 8th week. Results A significant main effect of time was observed, indicating that the dominant side EHAD strength (F2,44 = 71.733, p < 0.001), EHAB strength (F2,44 = 6.342, p = 0.004); EHAD/EHAB ratio (F2,44 = 31.813, p < 0.001). The non-dominant side EHAD strength (F2,44 = 87.308, p < 0.001); EHAB strength (F2,44 = 6.825, p = 0.007); and EHAD/EHAB ratio (F2,44 = 49.364, p < 0.001) also differed across time. Conclusions An eight-week progressive Copenhagen Adduction exercise significantly and clinically meaningfully increases EHAD strength, as well as improves the EHAD/EHAB ratio bilaterally among elite adolescent taekwondo athletes when implemented into the regular training.
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