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

Author

Listed:
  • Arunee Promsri

    (Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
    Department of Physical Therapy, University of Phayao, Phayao 56000, Thailand)

  • Alessia Longo

    (Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
    Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, 6525 Nijmegen, The Netherlands)

  • 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)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Arunee Promsri & Alessia Longo & Thomas Haid & Aude-Clémence M. Doix & Peter Federolf, 2019. "Leg Dominance as a Risk Factor for Lower-Limb Injuries in Downhill Skiers—A Pilot Study into Possible Mechanisms," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-15, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:18:p:3399-:d:266952
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Øyvind Gløersen & Peter Federolf, 2016. "Predicting Missing Marker Trajectories in Human Motion Data Using Marker Intercorrelations," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(3), pages 1-14, March.
    2. Peter Andreas Federolf, 2013. "A Novel Approach to Solve the “Missing Marker Problem” in Marker-Based Motion Analysis That Exploits the Segment Coordination Patterns in Multi-Limb Motion Data," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(10), pages 1-13, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Zi Wang & Yihui Cai & Junqi Wu & Siyuan Xie & Wei Jiao, 2022. "Relationship between Lower Extremity Fitness Levels and Injury Risk among Recreational Alpine Skiers: A Prospective Cohort Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-12, August.
    2. Martin Burtscher & Martin Niedermeier & Hannes Gatterer, 2021. "Editorial on the Special Issue on “Mountain Sports Activities: Injuries and Prevention”," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-7, February.
    3. Alfredo Brighenti & Frédéric Noé & Federico Stella & Federico Schena & Laurent Mourot, 2022. "Warm-Up Improves Balance Control Differently in the Dominant and Non-Dominant Leg in Young Sportsmen According to Their Experience in Asymmetric or Symmetric Sports," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(8), pages 1-11, April.

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