A Comparison of Left and Right Leg Static Balance Parameters in Young Handball Players

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare left and right leg balance parameters in young female handball players. Methods: 13 athletes (age: 15.07±0.19 years, height: 162.23±5.70 cm, weight: 57.38±4.39 kg, BMI 21.92±0.23 kg/m², training age: 4.23±1.36 years) volunteered for the study. Normality test of the data was done using Shapiro-Wilk test, and variation homogeneity was tested using Levene’s Test of Homogeneity of Variance. When the data showed non-parametric characteristics, Mann Whitney U-Test was used; when it was parametric, Independent Sample Test was used. SPSS 17 Software was used for statistical analysis, and the significance was determined as p≤0.05. Results: The results showed that when mean speed of left and right leg forward-backward velocity of the athletes was analysed, a significant difference was found in favour of the right leg (p≤0.05). Furthermore, a significant difference was found in favour of the right leg between means of the left and right leg perimeter of the athletes (p≤0.05). However, there found no difference between means of the left and right leg lateral velocity and ellipsis area of the athletes (p≥0.05). Conclusion: These results may show that due to the training ages of the athletes (4 years), branches of the athletes did not affect the results and their improvement were still in progress. It could also be due to the dominant leg of all the athletes being their right leg and/or due to the differences in their leg strength. The most important limitation of this study could be the fact that leg strength values were not included in the study. Generally, in handball, when the dominant arm of the athlete is their right, the leg at the opposite side is the one used for jumping. Nevertheless, in individual leg balance tests done with both legs, it is expected there be no difference between the values. For these differences not to cause any sport injuries and not to negatively affect the technical move performances, it is advised that coaches have lower extremity strength and balance exercises symmetrically done.