Leg Dominance as a Risk Factor for Lower-Limb Injuries in Downhill Skiers—A Pilot Study into Possible Mechanisms

Arunee Promsri, Alessia Longo, Thomas Haid, Aude-Clémence M. Doix and Peter Federolf
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Arunee Promsri: Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Alessia Longo: Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Thomas Haid: Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Aude-Clémence M. Doix: Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Peter Federolf: Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 18, 1-15

Abstract: Leg dominance has been reported as one potential risk factor for lower-limb injuries in recreational downhill skiers. The current study proposed and tested two possible mechanisms for a leg dominance effect on skiing injuries—imbalance of the knee muscle strength and bilateral asymmetry in sensorimotor control. We hypothesized that the knee muscle strength (Hypothesis 1; H1) or postural control (Hypothesis 2; H2) would be affected by leg dominance. Fifteen well-experienced recreational downhill skiers (aged 24.3 ± 3.2 years) participated in this study. Isometric knee flexor/extensor muscle strength was tested using a dynamometer. Postural control was explored by using a kinematic principal component analysis (PCA) to determine the coordination structure and control of three-dimensional unipedal balancing movements while wearing ski equipment on firm and soft standing surfaces. Only H2 was supported when balancing on the firm surface, revealing that when shifting body weight over the nondominant leg, skiers significantly changed the coordination structure ( p < 0.006) and the control ( p < 0.004) of the lifted-leg movements. Based on the current findings, bilateral asymmetry in sensorimotor control rather than asymmetry in strength seems a more likely mechanism for the previously reported effect of leg dominance on lower-limb injury risk in recreational downhill skiers.

Keywords: leg dominance; injury; risk factor; anterior cruciate ligament ACL; balance; neuromuscular control; knee muscle strength; sex difference; kinematic principal component analysis PCA (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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