Analyzing the Magnitude of Interlimb Asymmetries in Young Female Soccer Players: A Preliminary Study

Abstract

Although asymmetries in lower limbs have been linked with players’ performance in male soccer players, literature that has been published addressing female soccer is scarce. Thus, the aim of this study was twofold: (i) describe the asymmetries of women soccer players during jumping, change-of-direction and range-of-motion tests; and (ii) test possible relationships between asymmetries and injury risk in female soccer players. Sixteen female players (15.5 ± 1.5 years) performed a battery of fitness tests (i.e., jump ability, change-of-direction ability and passive range-of-motion) and muscle mass analysis via dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, through which the specific asymmetry index and the related injury risk were calculated. Significant (p < 0.05) lower asymmetries in the change-of-direction test were observed in comparison to those observed in jumping and range-of-motion tests; significant (p < 0.05) lower asymmetries in muscle mass were also reported compared to those found in the change-of-direction and countermovement jump tests. Additionally, increased injury risk for countermovement jump and hip flexion with extended knee range-of-motion (relating to asymmetry values) and for ankle flexion with flexed knee range-of-motion in both legs (relating to reference range-of-motion values), as well as increased individual injury risk values, were observed across all tests. These findings suggest the necessity to implement individual approaches for asymmetry and injury risk analyses.

Functional and Anthropometrical Screening Test among High Performance Female Football Players: A Descriptive Study with Injury Incidence Analysis, the Basque Female Football Cohort (BFFC) Study

“…ROM assessment of the lower limb joints has been previously investigated with regard to injury risk factor identification [49]. The hip and ankle ROM values reported in the present study are in agreement with those previously reported among female football professional players [42], establishing hip extension and ankle dorsiflexion with knee extended mobility at 15 • and 36 • (16.1 ± 7.6 • and 39.7 ± 15.0 • in the present study), respectively.…”

“…Considering that both the mean age (20 vs. 22 years old) and competition level (professional football) were similar between cohorts, the reported knee flexion flexibility difference may have arisen from methodological issues (i.e., timing of the evaluation or previous training load). Other investigations have reported greater ROM values among younger female football players [49], indicating that age and competitive level [50] may influence the ROM profile of athletes. Another interesting result from the present investigation came from the absence of significant limb-to-limb differences, suggesting that ROM asymmetries were not present on lower limb flexibility among the evaluated players.…”

Detection of Upper Limb Asymmetries in Athletes According to the Stage of the Season—A Longitudinal Study

“…To this end, the articular evaluation Range of Motion (ROM) is used to observe imbalance or asymmetries as risk factors for injury [ 4 , 5 ]. For the development of scientific research, different functional assessment tests can be identified, such as Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) [ 6 ], and Y-Balance Test (YBT) [ 7 ] for the lower body and Upper Quarter Y-Balance Test (UQYBT) [ 8 ] and modified-Upper Quarter Y-Balance Test (mUQYBT) [ 9 ] for the upper body.…”

“…One of the main objectives of the use of these tests is the study of physical or physiological imbalances between different body segments, which can have a negative influence on the athlete’s performance or increase the risk of suffering an injury [ 5 ]. These physical or physiological mismatches are called asymmetries [ 10 ].…”

“…Therefore, it is necessary to achieve a correct balance between the different structures, as well as a reduction in asymmetries [ 10 ], using different methods of functional assessment [ 5 ] to determine the degree of functional balance between the musculature, as well as an individual approach to data analysis [ 10 ].…”