Mark Helme1, Jason Tee2, Stacey Emmonds3, Chris Low4. 1. Sport and Human Performance Research Group, Sport and Physical Activity Research Centre, Sheffield Hallam University, UK; Research Centre for Sports Coaching, Carnegie School of Sport, Leeds Beckett University, UK; Carnegie Applied Rugby Research (CARR) Centre, Institute for Sport, Physical Activity and Leisure, Carnegie School of Sport, Leeds Beckett University, UK. Electronic address: M.helme@shu.ac.uk. 2. Research Centre for Sports Coaching, Carnegie School of Sport, Leeds Beckett University, UK; Carnegie Applied Rugby Research (CARR) Centre, Institute for Sport, Physical Activity and Leisure, Carnegie School of Sport, Leeds Beckett University, UK. 3. Sport and Human Performance Research Group, Sport and Physical Activity Research Centre, Sheffield Hallam University, UK; Research Centre for Sports Coaching, Carnegie School of Sport, Leeds Beckett University, UK. 4. Research Centre for Sports Coaching, Carnegie School of Sport, Leeds Beckett University, UK.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this review was to synthesize the current understanding relating to the risks of lower body functional asymmetry with injury in athletic populations. METHODS: An iterative data mining and sampling approach was used to construct a search phrase from key words, which were used to identify studies within SPORTdiscus, Medline and Academic Search Complete databases. Additional references were sourced from the reference lists of these articles. RESULTS: After screening, 31 papers were reviewed, from an initial search identifying 302 possible studies. A total of 6228 participants were involved in the studies, of which soccer players were the most observed sporting demographic (n = 2171). Of the 31 studies reviewed eight found no statistical association between lower limb asymmetry and injury risk, 10 studies provided partial statistically significant evidence and a further 10 provided statistically significant statistical links. CONCLUSION: Overall moderate to lower quality evidence for functional asymmetry as a risk factor for injury in sport was observed. While the possibility of a relationship between lower limb functional asymmetry and injury risk cannot be ruled out, further higher quality investigations, adopting standardised methodologies, is required.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this review was to synthesize the current understanding relating to the risks of lower body functional asymmetry with injury in athletic populations. METHODS: An iterative data mining and sampling approach was used to construct a search phrase from key words, which were used to identify studies within SPORTdiscus, Medline and Academic Search Complete databases. Additional references were sourced from the reference lists of these articles. RESULTS: After screening, 31 papers were reviewed, from an initial search identifying 302 possible studies. A total of 6228 participants were involved in the studies, of which soccer players were the most observed sporting demographic (n = 2171). Of the 31 studies reviewed eight found no statistical association between lower limb asymmetry and injury risk, 10 studies provided partial statistically significant evidence and a further 10 provided statistically significant statistical links. CONCLUSION: Overall moderate to lower quality evidence for functional asymmetry as a risk factor for injury in sport was observed. While the possibility of a relationship between lower limb functional asymmetry and injury risk cannot be ruled out, further higher quality investigations, adopting standardised methodologies, is required.
Authors: Oscar García-García; Ángela Molina-Cárdenas; Tania Álvarez-Yates; Mario Iglesias-Caamaño; Virginia Serrano-Gómez Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-04-13 Impact factor: 4.614