title: Factors determining the preference of takeoff leg in jumping.
abstract: The takeoff (= push-off) leg in jumping, handedness, and leg length inequality as measured radiographically were recorded for 892 young healthy subjects, 62 of whom were top-level athletic jumpers, 654 competetive athletes representing other sports, and 176 Finnish Army conscripts. Correlation between the laterality of takeoff leg and handedness was poor, but a significant majority (81.4% of jumpers, 65.1% of other athletes, and 76.8% of conscripts) invariably used the longer leg for takeoff. Incidence of leg length inequality was highest in the group of athletic jumpers, the difference between top-level jumpers and runners being statistically significant.
authors.affiliation: Research Institute of Military Medicine, Central Military Hospital Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Friberg
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kvist
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D007870:Leg Length Inequality / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D013177:Sports