Associations between Inter-Limb Asymmetries in Jump and Change of Direction Speed Tests and Physical Performance in Adolescent Female Soccer Players
Metadata
Show full item recordEditorial
MDPI
Materia
Athletic performance Youth sport Females Football
Date
2021Referencia bibliográfica
Pardos-Mainer, E.; Bishop, C.; Gonzalo-Skok, O.; Nobari, H.; Pérez-Gómez, J.; Lozano, D. Associations between Inter-Limb Asymmetries in Jump and Change of Direction Speed Tests and Physical Performance in Adolescent Female Soccer Players. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 3474. https:// doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18073474
Abstract
The association between asymmetries in jump and change of direction (COD) with physical
performance in several sports show inconclusive results. The purposes of this study were to: (1) measure inter-limb asymmetries in three distinct groups in adolescent female soccer players and, (2) to
determine the association between inter-limb asymmetries and physical performance in different
age groups. Fifty-four players were distributed in three age groups: U-18, U-16 and U-14. All of
them performed a series of jumps, sprints and change of direction speed tests. Asymmetries were
assessed as the percentage difference between limbs, with the equation: 100/Max value (right and
left) * in value (right and left) * −1 + 100. Mean inter-limb asymmetries were 2.91%, 4.82% and 11.6%
for 180◦ COD, single leg hop and single leg countermovement jump tests respectively, but higher
percentages of asymmetries were observed in many players individually. U-18 and U-16 showed
significant differences on 180◦
left COD compared to U-14. Effect size (ES): 0.80 and 0.74, respectively;
U-18 presented differences on single left leg hop test compared to U-14, ES: −0.72; U-16 also showed
differences on 40 m speed compared to U-14, ES 0.87 (All p < 0.05). Jumping and COD physical
tests show asymmetries in adolescent female soccer players, but these asymmetries do not interfere
with physical performance. The largest asymmetry was observed in the single leg countermovement
jump, and no asymmetries between groups were found. Due to the high variability in the direction of
asymmetries, it is recommended to consider players’ individual asymmetries for designing specific
training programs.