COLLEGIATE MALE SOCCER PLAYERS EXHIBIT BETWEEN-LIMB SYMMETRY IN BODY COMPOSITION, MUSCLE STRENGTH, AND RANGE OF...

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Biomechanics
• Human Movement

Background:

• Limb dominance in soccer players often leads to assumptions of functional and structural asymmetries.
• Previous research suggests repetitive kicking actions could cause between-limb imbalances.
• However, observed symmetry in muscle strength challenges these hypotheses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if lateral dominance correlates with between-limb asymmetries in soccer players.
• To comprehensively assess body composition, muscle strength, and range of motion in relation to dominance.
• To determine the extent of symmetry or asymmetry in healthy collegiate soccer athletes.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional observational study involving 17 male NCAA Division One soccer players.
• Measurements included lower limb muscle strength (hand-held dynamometry), range of motion (goniometry), and body composition (DXA scan).
• Paired t-tests were used to compare the dominant and non-dominant lower limbs.

Main Results:

• No statistically significant differences were found between the dominant and non-dominant lower limbs.
• Remarkable symmetry was observed across all assessed measures: body composition, muscle strength, and range of motion.
• All comparisons yielded p-values greater than 0.05, indicating no significant asymmetry.

Conclusions:

• The study found unexpected symmetry in soccer players, challenging the notion of inherent between-limb asymmetry.
• Authors speculate that the high prevalence of running, cumulative effects of playing, or functional adaptations may mitigate expected asymmetries.
• Further research is needed to fully understand the interplay of factors influencing limb development in athletes.