Affiliations: [a] School of Physical Education and Sports, Afyon Kocatepe University, Afyon, Turkey | [b] Department of Coaching Education, Faculty of Sports Science, Anadolu University, Eskisehir, Turkey
Correspondence:
[*]
Corresponding author: Mehmet Yıldız, School of Physical Education and Sports, Afyon Kocatepe University, Afyon, Turkey. Tel.: +90 272 2181363; E-mail: [email protected].
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of kicking leg preference on the bilateral leg strength asymmetries of amateur football players. METHODS: Thirty-four right-dominant (RD) and twenty-three left-dominant (LD) amateur football players volunteered to participate in the study. Squat and countermovement jump, standing long jump, and isokinetic knee strength (at 60, 180 and 300∘/s) were tested with respect to inter-limb asymmetry index (ASI). RESULTS: There were significant differences in horizontal jump and H/Q ratio at 60∘/s between DL and NDL in all football players. There were also significant differences in standing long jump, hamstring peak torque at 180∘/s and H/Q ratio at 60∘/s in the LD football players (p< 0.05). Moreover, the LD group had greater percentage of subjects with ASI > 15% for standing long jump, hamstring peak torque at 180∘/s. Furthermore the percentage of subjects with H/Q Ratio < 0.60 for 60∘/s was greater in the LD players’ DL. CONCLUSION: Bilateral leg strength asymmetries may be affected by a single leg predominantly in the mobilization workouts. Having higher inter-limb asymmetry index, LD players may be screened and trained to minimize leg strength asymmetries.
Keywords: Bilateral, strength, asymmetry, dominant leg, leg preference
