Upper-Limb Asymmetries of University Club Sport Athletes

Authors

Elizabeth Cafferty, Utah State UniversityFollow
Sara Harper, University of Alabama, HuntsvilleFollow
Dale R. Wagner, Utah State UniversityFollow

Abstract

Asymmetries are commonly researched in sports. Dominant-sided sports tend to favor these adaptations, suggesting the development of lean mass (LM) and bone mineral content (BMC) asymmetries. Professional and collegiate athletes are often the primary population for this line of research. Further investigation into university club sport athletes provides more insight. PURPOSE: To investigate upper-limb LM and BMC asymmetries in club sport athletes. METHODS: University club sport athletes (N = 207) from 18 different teams participated in the study. Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) whole-body scans collected LM and BMC data. Participant data were separated into club sport upper-limb dominance (e.g., baseball, volleyball) vs. no upper-limb dominance (e.g., cycling, gymnastics) groups. The upper-limb asymmetry index (LAsIARM) and absolute upper limb difference of LM/BMC (leanBMC-armdiff) were calculated for each participant. A mixed model ANOVA and independent t-tests were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: There was no interaction (upper-limb dominance x group, P = 0.051). The main effect of upper-limb dominance was significant (P < 0.001), as well as the main effect of group (P = 0.032). LAsIARM was not significant (P = 0.544), although the leanBMC-armdiff was significant (P = 0.012). CONCLUSION: In general, upper-limb dominant club sport athletes may exhibit greater LM and BMC differences compared to sports that do not have upper-limb dominance. This finding supports that the physical demands of upper-limb dominant sports promote adaptations in lean mass and bone development. Limitations of this study include whether the club sport is the sole sport engaged in and varying competitive experience in their club sport, from just a few months to many years. Future research can investigate upper-limb asymmetries of club sport athletes compared to collegiate-level athletes with similar years of competitive experience.

Recommended Citation

Cafferty, Elizabeth; Harper, Sara; and Wagner, Dale R. (2024) "Upper-Limb Asymmetries of University Club Sport Athletes," International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings: Vol. 14: Iss. 4, Article 131.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijesab/vol14/iss4/131