The purposes of this study were (a) to determine whether a significant strength imbalance existed between the left and right or dominant (D) and nondominant (ND) legs and (b) to investigate possible correlations among various unilateral and bilateral closed kinetic chain tests, including a field test, and traditional isokinetic dynamometry used to determine strength imbalance. Fourteen Division I collegiate women softball players (20.2 +/- 1.4 years) volunteered to undergo measures of average peak torque for isokinetic flexion and extension at 60 degrees .s(-1) and 240 degrees .s(-1); in addition, measures of peak and average force of each leg during parallel back squat, 2-legged vertical jump, and single-leg vertical jump and performance in a 5-hop test were examined. Significant differences of between 4.2% and 16.0% were evident for all measures except for average force during single-leg vertical jump between the D and ND limbs, thus revealing a significant strength imbalance. The 5-hop test revealed a significant difference between D and ND limbs and showed a moderate correlation with more sophisticated laboratory tests, suggesting a potential use as a field test for the identification of strength imbalance. The results of this study indicate that a significant strength imbalance can exist even in collegiate level athletes, and future research should be conducted to determine how detrimental these imbalances could be in terms of peak performance for athletes, as well as the implications for injury risk.

Determination of functional strength imbalance of the lower extremities. J. Strength Cond. Res. 20(4): 971-977. 2006.-The purposes of this study were (a) to determine whether a significant strength imbalance existed between the left and right or dominant (D) and nondominant (ND) legs and (b) to investigate possible correlations among various unilateral and bilateral closed kinetic chain tests, including a field test, and traditional isokinetic dynamometry used to determine strength imbalance. Fourteen Division I collegiate women softball players (20.2 Ϯ 1.4 years) volunteered to undergo measures of average peak torque for isokinetic flexion and extension at 60Њ·s Ϫ1 and 240Њ·s Ϫ1 ; in addition, measures of peak and average force of each leg during parallel back squat, 2-legged vertical jump, and single-leg vertical jump and performance in a 5-hop test were examined. Significant differences of between 4.2% and 16.0% were evident for all measures except for average force during single-leg vertical jump between the D and ND limbs, thus revealing a significant strength imbalance. The 5-hop test revealed a significant difference between D and ND limbs and showed a moderate correlation with more sophisticated laboratory tests, suggesting a potential use as a field test for the identification of strength imbalance. The results of this study indicate that a significant strength imbalance can exist even in collegiate level athletes, and future research should be conducted to determine how detrimental these imbalances could be in terms of peak performance for athletes, as well as the implications for injury risk.

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This study was conducted to determine whether improvements in glucose tolerance could be observed after a single bout of resistance exercise in young (27.1 +/- 1.24 yr) control subjects, older (53.3 +/- 1.7 yr) patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), and older (50.7 +/- 1.9 yr) age-matched control subjects. Each subject was screened for fitness level and any contraindications to exercise before inclusion in the study. A 75-g oral glucose tolerance test was administered 2 wk after the subjects were screened, and the subjects were familiarized with the exercise equipment. The maximum weight that could be lifted with one repetition was determined on seven Nautilus machines that utilized the upper and lower body. After a 48-h rest period, a 3-set x 10-repetition protocol based on the subject's one repetition maximum was completed by each participant on each machine. Eighteen hours after the lifting protocol, a second oral glucose tolerance test was administered. There was no change in the pre- to post-exercise glucose levels in any of the treatment groups, but the total insulin responses (area under the curve) of the young control and NIDDM groups were significantly lower after exercise: from 6.93 +/- 0.8 x 10(3) to 5.38 +/- 0.65 x 10(3) pM in the young control group and from 9.83 +/- 1.95 x 10(3) to 7.77 +/- 1.50 x 10(3) pM in the NIDDM group. The postexercise C-peptide levels were unchanged in all groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)