Unilateral Compound Training Reduces Lower-Limb Strength Asymmetry and Enhances Athletic Performance in Female...

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Biomechanics
• Exercise Physiology

Background:

• Lower-limb strength asymmetries are prevalent in handball players, potentially hindering performance and increasing injury risk.
• Addressing these asymmetries is crucial for optimizing athletic capabilities and player longevity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of a six-week unilateral compound training program on strength asymmetry, neuromuscular function, and physical performance in female handball athletes.
• To evaluate changes in isokinetic strength, hamstring-to-quadriceps ratio, body composition, and athletic metrics.

Main Methods:

• Thirty competitive female handball players were randomized into an experimental group (unilateral training + regular training) and a control group (regular training only).
• The intervention involved three weekly sessions of unilateral resistance and plyometric exercises for six weeks.
• Assessments included body composition, isokinetic strength, strength asymmetry, H/Q ratios, sprint, change-of-direction (COD), countermovement jump (CMJ), and single-leg CMJ.

Main Results:

• The experimental group showed significant improvements in body composition, knee flexor and extensor strength, and reduced quadriceps and hamstring asymmetries.
• Statistically significant enhancements were observed in sprint performance, COD ability, CMJ height, and single-leg jump performance.
• While significant improvements were noted, the study acknowledges that the additional training volume in the experimental group may influence the attribution of results solely to the unilateral modality.

Conclusions:

• Supplemental unilateral compound training, when added to regular handball training, may effectively reduce lower-limb strength asymmetries.
• This training approach shows potential for enhancing key neuromuscular performance indicators relevant to handball players.
• Further research is needed to isolate the specific effects of the unilateral training modality versus the overall increase in training volume.