Relationship Between Lower Extremity Strength Asymmetry And Jump And Sprint Performance

Abstract

The relationship between inter-limb strength asymmetry and athletic performance is not clearly well-known. Different resultsin the literature makes it difficult to form a common consensus on this issue. The aim of this study was to investigate therelationship between contralateral inter-limb strength asymmetry (ILLSA) values and jump and sprint performances. Fortyeight individuals (21.5±2.8 years, 1.74±0.1 m, 67.3±9.7 kg) voluntarily participated in this study. All participants participated insquat (SJ), Countermovement jump (CMJ), 40m sprint run tests and right and left isokinetic concentric knee flexion andextension strength (IS) test at low (60°.s-1) and high (300°.s-1) angular velocities. The symmetry angle formula was used inorder to determine the isokinetic knee strength asymmetry values between inter-lower limb. According to the results it wasrevealed that there was no relation (p>0.05) between ILSSA at low and high angular velocities and squat jump (r = -0.106 0.200),countermovement jump (r = -0.11 0.087) and 40m sprint (r = 0.012 0.810) performance. In conclusion, there is no negative orpositive relationship between inter limb isokinetic knee strength symmetry angle and jump and sprint performances inphysically active individuals.