Comparison Of Lower Extremity Bilateral and Ipsilateral Strength Asymmetry in Male and Female Soccer Players

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare bilateral and ipsilateral lower extremity strength asymmetry in male and female soccer players. This study was conducted with cross-sectional research model. A total of 74 soccer players, 36 women and 38 men, who play active soccer in Mersin, participated in the study voluntarily. The body composition of the participants was measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis and isokinetic strength was measured by Cybex II Norm isokinetic dynamometer. Isokinetic strength test was performed for both knees at 60 o/s for 3 sets 5 repetitions. Bilateral and ipsilateral force asymmetry were calculated with formulas based on peak torque force. Since bilateral force asymmetry values were not normally distributed, Mann Whitney U test was performed, and since ipsilateral force asymmetry values were normally distributed, independent sample t test was performed. When the bilateral strength asymmetry of male and female soccer players were compared, it was observed that there was a significant difference in both quadriceps (p<0.02) and hamstring muscle groups strength asymmetry (p<0.01). In the ipsilateral force asymmetry values, it was observed that there was no significant difference between genders (p>0.05). When the ipsilateral force asymmetry values were examined, it was observed that male soccer players (56.04%-55.21%) had more ideal values than females (54.49%-53.88%). As a result, in our study findings, it was observed that the strength asymmetry values of the athletes were at an ideal level and there was a difference between the genders in bilateral asymmetry, but there was no difference in ipsilateral asymmetry.

Keywords

• Football
• Isokinetic Strength
• Bilateral
• Ipsilateral
• Strength Asymmetry

Erkek ve Kadın Futbolcularda Alt Ekstremi̇te Bilateral ve İpsi̇lateral Kuvvet Asi̇metri̇si̇ni̇n Karşılaştırılması

Öz

ÖZ Bu araştırmada, kadın ve erkek futbolcuların alt ekstremite bilateral ve ipsilateral kuvvet asimetrisinin karşılaştırılması amaçlanmıştır. Bu çalışma, kesitsel araştırma modeli ile gerçekleştirilmiştir. Araştırmaya Mersin ilinde aktif futbol oynayan 36 kadın 38 erkek olmak üzere toplam 74 futbolcu gönüllü olarak katılmıştır. Katılımcıların vücut kompozisyonu ölçümleri bioelektrik impedans analizi ile izokinetik kuvvet ölçümleri ise Cybex II Norm izokinetik dinamometre ile ölçülmüştür. İzokinetik kuvvet testi 60 o/s’ de 3 set 5 tekrar olmak üzere her iki diz için de uygulanmıştır. Bilateral ve ipsilateral kuvvet asimetrisi zirve tork kuvveti üzerinden formüller ile hesaplanmıştır. Bilateral kuvvet asimetrisi değerleri normal dağılım göstermediği için Mann Whitney U testi, ipsilateral kuvvet asimetrisi değerleri normal dağılım gösterdiği için bağımsız örneklem t testi yapılmıştır. Kadın ve erkek futbolcuların bilateral kuvvet asimetrisi karşılaştırıldığında hem quadriceps (p<0,02) hem de hamstring kas grupları kuvvet asimetrelerinde (p<0,01) anlamlı farklılık olduğu görülmüştür. İpsilateral kuvvet asimetrisi değerlerinde ise cinsiyetler arasında anlamlı farklılık olmadığı (p>0,05) gözlemlenmiştir. İpsilateral kuvvet asimetri değerlerine bakıldığında erkek futbolcuların (%56,04 - %55,21) kadınlara oranla (%54,49 - %53,88) daha ideal değerlere sahip olduğu gözlenmiştir. Sonuç olarak, çalışma bulgularımızda, sporcuların kuvvet asimetrisi değerlerinin ideal düzeyde olduğu ve cinsiyetler arasında bilateral asimetride fark olduğu, ipsilateral asimetride ise farklılık olmadığı görülmüştür.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Futbol
• İzokinetik Kuvvet
• Bilateral
• İpsilateral
• Kuvvet Asimetrisi

Kaynakça

1. Aginsky, J.D., Neophytou, N., & Charalambous, T. (2014). Isokinetic hamstring and quadriceps muscle strength profiles of elite South African football players. African Journal for Physical, Health Education, Recreation and Dance, 20 (3), 1225-1236.
2. Bangsbo, J., Mohr, M., & Krustrup, P. (2006). Physical and metabolic demands of training and match-play in the elite football playe. Journal of Sports Sciences, 24, 665–674. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640410500482529
3. Bailey, C.A., Sato, K., Burnett, A., & Stone, M. H. (2015). Force-Production asymmetry in male and female athletes of differing strength levels. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 10( 4), 504-508. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2014-0379
4. Bell, D.R., Sanfillipo, J., Binkley, N., & Heiderscheit, B.C. (2014). Lean mass asymmetry influences force and power asymmetry during jumping in college athletes. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 28 (4), 884–891. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000000367
5. Bishop, C., Read, P., Chavda, S., & Turner, A. (2016). Asymmetries of the lower limb: The calculation conundrum in strength training and conditioning. Strength and Conditioning Journal, 38 (6), 27-32. https://doi.org/10.1519/SSC.0000000000000264
6. Boden, B.P., Griffin, L.Y., & Garrett, W. E. (2000). Etiology and prevention of noncontact ACL injury. The Physician and Sportsmedicine, 28 (4), 53-60. https://doi.org/10.3810/psm.2000.04.841
7. Brown, L. E. (2000). Isokinetics in Human Performance. Human Kinetics.
8. Cohen, J. (2018). Statistical Power Analysis for the Behavioral Sciences, Routledge.

9. Costa Silva, J. R. L., Detanico, D., Pupo, J. D., & Freitas, C. R. (2015). Bilateral asymmetry of knee and ankle isokinetic torque in soccer players u20 category. Revista Brasileira de Cineantropometria e Desempenho Humano, 17 (2), 195-204. https://doi.org/10.5007/1980-0037.2015v17n2p195
10. Croisier, J.L., Ganteaume, S., Binet, J., Genty, M., & Ferret, J. M. (2008). Strength imbalances and prevention of hamstring injury in professional soccer players: A prospective study. Journal of Sports Medicine, 36, 1469–1475. https://doi.org/10.1177/0363546508316764
11. Daneshjoo, A., Rahnama, N., Mokhtar, A. H., & Yusof, A. (2013). Bilateral and unilateral asymmetries of isokinetic strength and flexibility in male young professional soccer players. Journal of Human Kinetics, 36 (1), 45-53. https://doi.org/10.2478/hukin-2013-0005
12. Deda, N., & Kalaja, A. (2015). Epidemiology in knee injuries in volleyball players. European Scientific Journal (ESJ), 11(15), 44-52. https://eujournal.org/index.php/esj/article/view/5614
13. Delang, M.D., Salamh, P.A., Farooq, A., Tabben, M., Whiteley, R., VanDyk, N., & Chamari, K. (2021). The dominant leg is more likely to get injured in soccer players: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Biology of Sport, 38, 397–435. https://doi.org/10.5114/biolsport.2021.100265
14. Exell, T., Irwin, G., Gittoes, M., & Kerwin, D. (2017). Strength and performance asymmetry during maximal velocity sprint running. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 27, 1273–1282. https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.12759
15. Gleim, G.W., Nicholas, J.W., & Webb, J. N. (1978). Isokinetic evaluation following leg injuries. The Physician and Sports Medicine, 6(8), 74-82. https://doi.org/10.1080/00913847.1978.11710743
16. Harbili, S., Harbili, E., & Aslankeser, Z. (2020). Comparison of bilateral isokinetic and isometric strength differences in elite young male and female taekwondo athletes. Journal of Exercise Rehabilitation, 18(2), 117-122. https://doi.org/10.12965/jer.2244122.061
17. Hart, N.H., Nimphius, S., Spiteri, T., & Newton, R. U. (2014). Leg strength and lean mass symmetry influences kicking performance in Australian football. Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, 13, 157-165. PMID: 24570620.
18. Hewett, T.E., Myer, G.D., & Zazulak, B.T. (2008). Hamstrings to quadriceps peak torque ratios diverge between sexes with increasing isokinetic angular velocity. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 11(5), 452-459. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2007.04.009
19. Hewett, T.E., Myer, G.D., & Ford, K.R. (2006). Anterior cruciate ligament injuries in female athletes: Part 1, mechanisms and risk factors. The American Journal of Sports Medicine, 34, 299–311. https://doi.org/10.1177/0363546505284183
20. Hoff, J., & Helgerud, J. (2004). Endurance and strength training for soccer players: Physiological considerations. Sports Medicine, 34, 165–180. https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-200434030-00003
21. Holm, I., & Vollestad, N. (2008). Significant effect of gender on hamstring-to-quadriceps strength ratio and static balance in prepubescent children from 7 to 12 years of age. The American Journal of Sports Medicine, 36(10), 2007-2013. https://doi.org/10.1177/0363546508317963
22. Impellizzeri, F.M., Rampinini, E., & Maffiuletti, N.(2007). A vertical jump force test for assessing bilateral strength asymmetry in athletes. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 39(11), 2044-2050. https://doi.org/10.1249/mss.0b013e31814fb55c
23. Kaçoğlu, C. (2019). Diz eklemi kuvveti asimetrisinde cinsiyetler arası farklılıkların incelenmesi, Turkish Journal of Sports Medicine, 54(4), 225-232. https://doi.org/10.5152/tjsm.2019.136
24. Kim, D., & Hong J. (2011). Hamstring to quadriceps strength ratio and noncontact leg injuries: A prospective study during one season. Isokinetics and Exercise Science, 19(1), 1-6. https://doi.org/10.3233/IES-2011-0406
25. Lehance, C., Binet, J., Bury, T., & Croisier, J. L. (2009). Muscular strength, functional performances and injury risk in professional and junior elite soccer players. Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports, 19(2), 243-251. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0838.2008.00780.x
26. Lephart, S.M., Ferris, C.M., & Riemann, B. L. (2002). Gender differences in strength and lower extremity kinematics during landing. Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research, 401, 162-169. https://doi.org/10.1097/00003086-200208000-00019
27. Loturco, I., Pereira, L.A., Kobal, R., Abad, C.C., Rosseti, M., Carpes, F.P., & Bishop, C. (2019). Do asymmetry scores influence speed and power performance in elite female soccer players? Biology of Sport, 36, 209–216. https://doi.org/10.5114/biolsport.2019.85454
28. Maly, T., Ford, K.R., Sugimoto, D., Izovska, J., Bujnovsky, D., Hank, M., Cabell, L., & Zahalka, F. (2021). Isokinetic Strength, Bilateral and Unilateral Strength Differences: Variation by Age and Laterality in Elite Youth Football Players, International Journal of Morphology, 39(1), 260-267. https://doi.org/10.4067/S0717-95022021000100260
29. Maly, T., Zahalka, F., & Mala, L. (2016). Unilateral and Ipsilateral Strength Asymmetries in Elite Youth Soccer Players With Respect to Muscle Group and Limb Dominance. International Journal of Morphology, 34(4), 1339-1344. https://doi.org/10.4067/S0717-95022016000400027
30. Maly, T., Mala, L., Zahalka, F., Hank, M., & Simkova, M. (2017). Muscular strength of knee extensors and flexors and bilateral and ipsilateral ratio in elite male kickboxers. Arch Budo, 13, 107-116.
31. Masuda, K., Kikuhara, N., Demura, S., Katsuta, S., & Yamanaka, K. (2005). Relationship between muscle strength in various isokinetic movements and kick performance among soccer players. Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, 45(1),44 -9. PMID: 16208290.
32. Menzel, H.J., Chagas, M.H., Szmuchrowski, L.A., Araujo, S.R., Andrade, A.G., & Jesus-Moraleida, F.R. (2013). Analysis of lower limb asymmetries by isokinetic and vertical jump tests in soccer players. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 27, 1370–1377. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e318265a3c8
33. Pinniger, G.J., Steele, J.R., & Groeller, H. (2000). Does fatigue induced by repeated dynamic efforts affect hamstring muscle function? Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 32(3), 647-653. https://doi.org/10.1097/00005768-200003000-00015
34. Ruscello, B., Esposito, M., Partipilo, F., Di Cicco, D., Filetti, C., Pantanella, L., & D'Ottavio, S. (2018). Exercise-to-rest ratios in repeated sprint ability training in women's soccer. The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, 58, 1790–1799. https://doi.org/10.23736/S0022-4707.17.07741-6
35. Walden, M., Hagglund, M., Magnusson, H., & Ekstrand, J. (2016). ACL injuries in men’s professional football: A 15-year prospective study on time trends and return-to-play rates reveals only 65% of players still play at the top level 3 years after ACL rupture. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 50, 744–750. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2015-095952
36. Zeleznik, M., Cuk, I., & Sibanc, K. (2025). Relation of Dominant Leg Use with Functional Symmetries in Young Football Players of Different Age Groups. Applied Sciences, 15(5), 2588. https://doi.org/10.3390/app15052588