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Could hand-eye laterality profiles affect sport performance? A systematic review.
Miquel Moreno1,2, Lluis Capdevila1,3, Josep-Maria Losilla3,4
1Laboratory of Sport Psychology, Department of Basic Psychology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Catalunya, Spain.
Peerj
|November 23, 2022
Summary
Athletes exhibit distinct hand-eye laterality profiles, uncrossed (UC-HELP) and crossed (C-HELP). Some sports show higher C-HELP prevalence in athletes, while UC-HELP may benefit target sports, though more research is needed.
Area of Science:
- Sports Science
- Perceptual-Motor Skills
- Human Performance
Background:
- Investigates laterality effects on sports performance, particularly in asymmetrical sports requiring unilateral body use.
- Explores the role of ocular laterality and its interplay with manual dominance in defining perceptual-motor profiles.
- Introduces two hand-eye laterality profiles: uncrossed (UC-HELP) and crossed (C-HELP).
Approach:
- Conducted a systematic literature review to ascertain hand-eye laterality profile prevalence across sports modalities.
- Searched PsycInfo, Medline, Scopus, and grey literature, identifying 14 studies with 2,759 participants.
- Focused on studies examining hand-eye laterality in sports contexts.
Key Points:
- General population estimates suggest 70-90% UC-HELP and 10-30% C-HELP.
- Certain sports like golf, soccer, and tennis show a higher prevalence of C-HELP in athletes (42-53%).
- UC-HELP appears advantageous in target sports (archery, shooting) with 82.3% in elite performers; biomechanical differences noted in basketball, cricket, and golf.
Conclusions:
- Findings on hand-eye laterality and sports performance require cautious interpretation due to methodological biases and limited research.
- Recommends standardized terminology and assessment protocols for hand-eye laterality in sports science.
- Advancing knowledge in this area can enhance athlete development and talent identification strategies.
