Power, Muscle, and Take-Off Asymmetry in Young Soccer Players.

Petr Bahenský,Václav Bunc,Pavel Tlustý,David Marko

doi:10.3390/ijerph17176040

Abstract

(1) Background: The objective of the study was to check the relationship between laterality, amount of muscle mass (MM), and selected strength parameters on lower extremities and assessment of asymmetry like a result of training. (2) Methods: The screened sample consisted of soccer players (n = 65, age = 16.0 ± 1.2 years). The legs were assessed for MM, height of reflection on a force plate, and power over 30 s Wingate anaerobic test (WAnT). The relationships between the individual parameters and age dependence were assessed using a correlation analysis. The differences between the dominant and non-dominant leg were assessed using the t-test. (3) Results: A relationship between the jump height and the mean 30 s power in WAnT (r = 0.375, p < 0.01) and between the amount of MM and the absolute power of the individual legs in WAnT (r = 0.695–0.832, p < 0.01) was proved. A relationship between the take-off force and the MM, or between the MM and the relative power during a velocity force load was not found. (4) Conclusions: The amount of MM in young soccer players does not affect take-off force or strength power in WAnT. The more specific the movement is, the lower the effect on the achieved power output of the concerned MM. Differences in the performance between the dominant and non-dominant leg decrease with duration of the training.

Highlights

Lateralization that developed during human evolution has an internal and external background.It is especially manifested in the preference for one upper or lower limb in relation to motor skills and it influences the execution of the movement as well as the achieved power output [1,2]
There is expressed laterality of players by which hand they write and which one is the preferred leg for kicking and for jumping in terms of playing soccer
46% of players with left hand preference prefer the left leg for kicking and 54% prefer the left leg for take-off

Summary

Introduction

Lateralization that developed during human evolution has an internal and external background. It is especially manifested in the preference for one upper or lower limb in relation to motor skills and it influences the execution of the movement as well as the achieved power output [1,2]. Of the population prefer their upper right limb for both working and physical activities [3,4]. The preference of the lower limb might be influenced by the need for higher cerebral activation compared to upper limb movement [5]. Laterality is influenced by various factors of the human body (genetics) and the environment (e.g., birth stress, hormonal activity) that may affect its form, even in the early postnatal period [7]. Structural asymmetry is considerably higher in men than in women [8]

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