Inter-Limb Asymmetry in Force Accuracy and Steadiness Changes after a 12-Week Strength Training Program in Young Healthy Men

Abstract

The study aimed to investigate the impact of a 12-week strength training program on force accuracy and steadiness changes in lower limbs in young healthy men. Twenty subjects with a dominant right lower limb were included. They performed a force matching task both pre and post strength training program. The ability to reproduce force was determined by calculating three errors: absolute error (AE), constant error (CE), and variable error (VE). After intervention AE and VE improved in both legs indicating higher improvement in the dominant leg (p = 0.032 for AE and p = 0.005 for VE). However, CE improved only in the dominant leg (p = 0.001). We conclude that strength training improved the accuracy and consistency of force in a force reproduction task. This improvement was more evident in the dominant lower limb. Most likely, the inter-limb asymmetry in changes of force application ability caused by strength training is due to the different mechanisms responsible for the control of voluntary movements in the dominant and non-dominant lower limb.

Effects of a 12-Week Low-Intensity Resistance Training Program on Force-Matching Task and Balance in Young Men

“…The results are broadly consistent with the results of our previous research on the effects of high-intensity strength training on force-matching task performance [11]. In that study, we observed that 12 weeks of high-intensity strength training led to a significant reduction in all measured force errors (AE, CE, and VE).…”

“…Therefore, in our study, we decided to investigate whether widely used low-intensity resistance training would also positively affect such motor skills as force matching and balance. The previous study [11] confirmed that high-intensity strength training improved force-matching ability in young, healthy men. Although the mechanisms leading to this could not be elucidated, it seems likely that the improvement in force matching was the result of systematic resistance exercise over a long period (12 weeks) rather than the effect of using heavy loads.…”

“…The equipment used to measure force accuracy is shown in Figure 1. A detailed technical description of the device can be found in our previous work [11]. Measurements were taken in a sitting position with the back resting on a backrest.…”

“…In contrast, studies involving patients with ankle instability showed no improvement in force application accuracy after a strength training program [10]. To date, there is a lack of research on this topic involving young and healthy individuals, except for one study that reported that 12-week high-intensity strength training enhanced the accuracy and steadiness in the force matching task in young, healthy men [11].…”