Abstract
Inter-limb asymmetries are associated with a higher potential risk for non-contact injuries. Differences in function or performance between the limbs might lead to imbalances and promote instability, increasing the potential risk for injuries. Consequently, an investigation of inter-limb asymmetries should be included in injury risk assessment. Furthermore, since non-contact injuries mainly occur under loaded conditions, an investigation of load-induced changes of inter-limb asymmetries can provide additional information on the athlete’s potential injury risk. Therefore, the current study aimed to investigate the influence of physical load on inter-limb asymmetries in dynamic postural control, which is essential in situations with a high risk for non-contact injuries such as landing, cutting, or stopping. In total, dynamic postural control of 128 active and healthy subjects (64 males and 64 females, age: 23.64 ± 2.44, height: 176.54 ± 8.96 cm, weight: 68.85 ± 10.98 kg) was examined. Dynamic postural control was tested with the Y-Balance Test (YBT) before and after a loading protocol on a bicycle ergometer or a treadmill. The results showed no significant increase of the inter-limb asymmetries in anterior direction [F(1, 126) = 4.44, p = 0.04, η2p = 0.03]. Moreover, there is high variation between the subjects regarding the magnitude and the direction of the asymmetries and the changes due to load. Therefore, a more individual analysis considering the magnitude and the direction of the asymmetries is required. Thereby, considering different modifying factors, e.g., sex, injury history, and baseline level of asymmetries, can be helpful. Moreover, an analysis of the changes during load might provide further insights, reveal possible differences, and help detect the reasons and mechanisms underlying inter-limb asymmetries and asymmetrical loading.
Highlights
Many athletes develop a difference in function or performance between their limbs, i.e., interlimb asymmetries (Bishop et al, 2017)
Regarding an athlete’s potential injury risk, only inter-limb asymmetries in the anterior (ANT) reach direction of the Y-Balance Test (YBT) are associated with a higher potential injury risk (Plisky et al, 2006; Stiffler et al, 2017; Helme et al, 2021)
The raw data of the NRD and Percentage difference (PD) are provided in the Supplementary Material
Summary
Many athletes develop a difference in function or performance between their limbs, i.e., interlimb asymmetries (Bishop et al, 2017). Inter-limb asymmetries occur in asymmetric and in symmetric sports with mainly cyclic or alternating movement patterns, e.g., running, Asymmetries in Dynamic Postural Control cycling, or swimming (Hart et al, 2016; Parrington and Ball, 2016; Maloney, 2019). These inter-limb asymmetries might be caused by the predominant use of one preferred limb, leading to differences in strength development, neural development, or uneven flexibility and range of motion in favor of the preferred limb (Parrington and Ball, 2016)
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