Unilateral vs. bilateral hamstring strength assessments: comparing reliability and inter-limb asymmetries in female soccer players

Abstract

© 2021 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. The aims in the present study were to assess reliability for two unilateral and two bilateral field-based hamstring assessments and compare magnitude, direction and agreement of inter-limb asymmetry between tests and sessions. Twenty-nine female soccer players (age: 21.1 ± 4.5 years; height: 169.7 ± 5.8 cm; body mass: 66.2 ± 6.4 kg) performed three repetitions per leg of unilateral isometric 30° and 90° knee flexion (KF) tasks, and three repetitions total for a bilateral 90° isometric KF and Nordic hamstring exercise. Absolute reliability of most methods were acceptable ( < 10%). Relative reliability within-session was fair to excellent (ICC ≥ 0.784; lower bound 95%CI ≥ 0.623). Greater variability in between-session relative reliability was observed during the unilateral tests, demonstrating poor to good (ICC = 0.698–0.798; lower bound 95%CI = 0.274–0.638). Bilateral assessments demonstrated similar ranges of poor to excellent (ICC = 0.679–0.963; lower bound 95%CI = 0.231–0.790). Agreement between-session for inter-limb asymmetry identification was slight and fair in the unilateral tests, with moderate to substantial agreement demonstrated in the bilateral. Being the most reliable within- and between-sessions, demonstrating substantial agreement in asymmetry between-sessions, the NHE would be most appropriate to identify inter-limb asymmetry and assess chronic changes in hamstring strength.

RAS ID

39684

Document Type

Journal Article

Date of Publication

2021

School

School of Medical and Health Sciences

Copyright

subscription content

Publisher

Taylor & Francis

Comments

Cuthbert, M., Comfort, P., Ripley, N., McMahon, J. J., Evans, M., & Bishop, C. (2021). Unilateral vs. bilateral hamstring strength assessments: Comparing reliability and inter-limb asymmetries in female soccer players. Journal of Sports Sciences, 39(13), 1481-1488. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2021.1880180

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Link to publisher version (DOI)

10.1080/02640414.2021.1880180