Effect of lower limb preference on local muscular and vascular function

Area of Science:

• Exercise Physiology
• Vascular Biology
• Human Movement Science

Background:

• Unilateral training improves limb muscle and vascular function.
• Preferred arm dominance can lead to greater strength in non-athletes.
• The impact of lower limb preference on vascular function and muscle performance in active adults is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how lower limb preference influences quadriceps muscle characteristics and lower limb vascular function in middle-aged adults.
• To determine if limb preference affects muscle size, strength, power, endurance, arterial stiffness, venous compliance, and blood flow.

Main Methods:

• Twenty recreationally active middle-aged adults (55 ± 7 yrs) participated.
• Measurements included quadriceps muscle thickness, strength, power, endurance, arterial stiffness, calf venous compliance, and calf blood flow.
• Assessments were performed on both preferred and non-preferred lower limbs.

Main Results:

• The preferred lower limb showed significantly greater calf vascular conductance compared to the non-preferred limb (p = 0.011).
• Greater calf vascular conductance in the preferred limb was associated with less weekly aerobic activity (r = -0.521; p = 0.019).
• No significant differences were found in quadriceps muscle size or function between the preferred and non-preferred limbs.

Conclusions:

• Lower limb preference affects calf blood flow dynamics in middle-aged adults.
• Quadriceps muscle size and function are not influenced by lower limb preference in this population.
• Future unilateral lower limb studies should account for limb preference, testing either the preferred or non-preferred limb consistently.