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

Cuthbert, M ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0960-9085, Comfort, P ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1131-8626, Ripley, N ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4066-0591, McMahon, JJ ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9952-7846, Evans, M and 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) , pp. 1481-1488.

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Abstract

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.

Item Type:	Article
Schools:	Schools > School of Health and Society
Journal or Publication Title:	Journal of Sports Sciences
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
ISSN:	0264-0414
Related URLs:	Publication
Depositing User:	USIR Admin
Date Deposited:	05 Feb 2021 08:27
Last Modified:	16 Feb 2022 06:42
URI:	https://usir.salford.ac.uk/id/eprint/59526

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