Influence of Dynamic Balance on Jumping-Based Asymmetries in Team Sport: A between-Sports Comparison in Basketball and Handball Athletes

Abstract

The aims of the present study were to analyze mobility, dynamic balance and lower-limb strength and the prevalence of asymmetry according to the type of sport and assess the association between inter-limb asymmetry and sports performance. A total of 23 basketball and 25 handball players performed a test battery consisting of functional movements and a jump test. Inter-limb asymmetry was calculated using a standard percentage difference equation. A between-groups comparison analysis was carried out, and Pearson’s correlation coefficients (r) were calculated to establish a relationship between asymmetries and physical performance. The results found athletes in different sports to exhibit different performance in functional movements and the jump test, but no bilateral asymmetries. The reactive strength index (RSI) and stiffness asymmetries were significantly associated with the anterior reach Y-balance test (YBT) (r = −0.412; p < 0.01 and r = −0.359; p < 0.05, respectively), and the unilateral triple hop test (THTU) was negatively correlated to anterior reach, posterior lateral reach YBT and YBT composite YBT (r = −0.341 to −0.377; p < 0.05). These findings suggest that the asymmetries exhibited important dispersion not dependent upon the type of sport but on each individual and the applied test. In addition, asymmetry in anterior direction YBT showed the strongest association to the rest of the sports performance variables.

Establishing Normative Dynamic Postural Control Values in Elite Female Handball Players

“…These results validate the external validity of the limits found in this sample. Thus, although handball is a sport that is considered highly asymmetrical in nature, 25 there does not appear to be a pattern of differences in performance between the two lower limbs. A major side-to-side asymmetry should therefore be carefully addressed as it may reveal a potential risk factor (see below) for future lower limb injuries.…”

“…Handball is considered as an asymmetric sport due to frequent single-leg jumps, landing, side cuts and motor skills performed on the support limb. 25 As mSEBT reach distance and asymmetry are considered potentially important risk factors for lower limb injury especially in team court female athletes, 12,20,26 it is necessary to evaluate the normally-occurring level of asymmetry among young uninjured players. Consequently, a secondary aim of this study was to investigate whether there is a limb performance bias (dominant vs non-dominant) and establish normative values of the level of asymmetry in this population.…”

“…27 Recent evidence has highlighted differences on injury incidence across player positions 6,28 and it could be argued that specific trends exist regarding lower body dynamic postural control when comparing athlete position profiles. 25 The last objective was then to establish esti-…”

Can Compression Garments Reduce Inter-Limb Balance Asymmetries?

“…Hence, this study was undertaken to investigate the effects of CG on inter-limb balance asymmetries in individuals with extensive experience in an asymmetric sport such as handball players. Handball is a sport involving asymmetric motor actions (lower and upper limbs) that can accentuate inter-limb asymmetries, which might negatively affect athletic performance and increase the risk of lower extremity injuries ( Steib et al, 2016 ; Paillard, 2017 ; Barrera-Domínguez et al, 2021 ). Thus, a passive intervention such as CG wearing is hypothesized to reduce inter-limb balance asymmetries, especially in subjects with a high level of asymmetry, and could represent a cost effective sport-related injury prevention strategy.…”

The Influence of Maturity Status on Dynamic Balance Following 6 Weeks of Eccentric Hamstring Training in Youth Male Handball Players

“…Since balance and muscle strength are related in youth with a less developed neuromuscular system [ 18 ], improvement in balance performance was considered as a good tool for young handball players as they must enhance coordination during dribbling, passing and throwing the ball, while sprinting and jumping during the offensive and defensive actions [ 19 ]. Furthermore, major morphological and neural changes occur with growth and maturation [ 20 ].…”