Department of Movement and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium -
London Sport Institute, Middlesex University, London, UK.
J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 2022 Jul;62(7):944-952. doi: 10.23736/S0022-4707.21.12482-X. Epub 2021 May 24.
Asymmetries have been reported to negatively impact sport performance. This study examined the magnitude and direction of whole-body functional asymmetry in international versus national female tennis players.
Ten internationally and twelve nationally ranked tennis players participated. Upper extremity functional asymmetries (or side-to-side performance differences) were evaluated using handgrip strength, seated shot-put throw and plate tapping. Lower extremity functional asymmetries were determined using the single leg countermovement jump, single leg forward hop test, 6 m single leg hop test, 505 changes of direction (time and deficit), and Y-balance test (anterior, posteromedial, posterolateral). ANOVAs were used to compare the dominant (overall best or fastest result of a specific test) versus non-dominant performance values (best or fastest result of the corresponding extremity) within the internationally versus nationally ranked players. Functional asymmetry magnitudes differences (expressed as a precentage) were examined using Mann-Whitney U tests. Kappa coefficients examined the consistency as to which extremity performed dominantly across tests.
Significant asymmetries for every upper and lower extremity test were found. The functional asymmetry magnitude was significantly (P=0.020) higher on the single leg forward hop test for the nationally (6.3%) versus internationally ranked players (2.9%). Kappa coefficients showed perfect levels of consistency regarding all upper extremity tests (k=1.00), indicating true limb dominance whereas more variance was found as to which lower extremity performed dominantly across tests (k range=-0.067-0.174).
The included female tennis players displayed significant whole-body functional asymmetries. Poor consistency as to which lower extremity performed dominantly across tests warrants individual asymmetry monitoring.
已有研究表明，不对称会对运动表现产生负面影响。本研究旨在检测国际级和国家级女子网球运动员的整体身体功能性不对称的程度和方向。
共有 10 名国际级和 12 名国家级网球运动员参与了本研究。通过握力、坐姿投球和板球敲击来评估上肢功能性不对称（或左右侧表现差异）。通过单腿深蹲跳、单腿前向跳跃测试、6 米单腿跳跃测试、505 次变向测试（时间和差值）和 Y 平衡测试（前向、后内侧、后外侧）来确定下肢功能性不对称。采用 ANOVA 比较国际级和国家级运动员的优势侧（特定测试中整体最佳或最快的结果）与非优势侧（相应肢体的最佳或最快的结果）之间的差异。采用 Mann-Whitney U 检验比较各上肢和下肢测试的功能不对称程度（用百分比表示）。Kappa 系数检验了在各测试中哪一侧肢体表现出优势的一致性。
所有上肢和下肢测试均发现了显著的不对称。在单腿前向跳跃测试中，国家级（6.3%）运动员的功能性不对称程度明显高于国际级（2.9%）运动员（P=0.020）。Kappa 系数表明，所有上肢测试的一致性都达到了完美水平（k=1.00），表明真正的肢体优势，而在各测试中哪一侧下肢表现出优势的一致性则存在更大的差异（k 值范围为-0.067 至 0.174）。
本研究中的女性网球运动员表现出明显的整体身体功能性不对称。各测试中哪一侧下肢表现出优势的一致性较差，需要进行个体的不对称监测。
