Is a professional soccer player’s dominant lower limb at higher risk of injury than their non-dominant lower limb? A systematic review

Abstract

Background: Understanding incidences of soccer injuries is important to improving injury prevention and rehabilitation.Objective: To investigate whether a professional soccer player’s dominant lower limb (LL) is at higher risk of injury than their non-dominant LL.Methods: A systematic search was conducted using PubMed, SportsDiscus, CINHAL, SCOPUS and OpenGrey (09/01/2018–22/02/2018). Search terms included Sport*, injur* risk factor*, lower limb, limb dominance (LD), dominan*, functional laterality, handedness, limb preference, kicking leg, football, professional*. Observational studies reporting association between LD and LL injury in adult, professional soccer were eligible. Risk of bias was assessed with the ROBINS-I tool, articles with serious/critical risk of bias were excluded. Methodological quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Tool.Results: 14 articles were eligible following risk of bias assessment (8 high quality, 6 low quality; 12 males, 2 females). Males: Results, based on seven high quality articles, found that quadriceps, knee joint/ligament, adductor and ankle injuries occurred more frequently on the dominant LL, whilst LD had no association with hamstring, calf and patella tendinopathy injuries. Females: one high quality study found anterior cruciate ligament injuries occurred more frequently on the non-dominant LL.Conclusions: For males, kicking may be influential in quadriceps and adductor injury mechanisms and player-to-player contact influential in knee joint/ligament and ankle injury mechanisms. For females, anterior cruciate ligament injury may occur more frequently during unilateral non-dominant LL loading. Further investigation is needed into the impact of contact on dominant-side injuries in males and the influence of LD on injury in females.