title: Strength Asymmetry Between Front and Rear Leg in Elite Snowboard Athletes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine possible bilateral strength asymmetries between the front (FL) and the rear leg (RL) in elite snowboard athletes due to the imposed asymmetrical position on the board.
  
  
  METHODS
  Observational study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-three elite male snowboarders: 12 alpine athletes (SBalp), 11 snowboardcross athletes (SBx), and 10 freestyle athletes (SBfs).
  
  
  METHODS
  Open and closed kinetic chain exercises.
  
  
  METHODS
  Maximal isometric voluntary contraction (MVC) and vertical jump force (VJFT).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only SBalp athletes presented MVC and VJFT values in RL 9.9% and 11.3% greater than the corresponding value in FL (P < 0.001), respectively. No significant differences were observed in SBx and SBfs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A muscle strength asymmetry between FL and RL was detected only in elite SBalp. This asymmetry is lower than the ±15% cutoff interval used to define clinically relevant bilateral strength asymmetry and is likely to be explained by technical aspects. Indeed, only SBalp athletes naturally distributed the center of mass, and thus, the weight toward RL to have a good board control. This feature likely reflects a greater adaptation of the muscle characteristics.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy; †CeRiSM, Research Center "Sport, Mountain and Health," University of Verona, Rovereto, Italy; ‡Snowboard and Freestyle Sector, Italian Winter Sports Federation, Milan, Italy; and §IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Galeazzi, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vernillo
authors.forename: Cesare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pisoni
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Thiebat
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005080:Exercise Test; D006801:Humans; D007537:Isometric Contraction; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D052097:Quadriceps Muscle / Q000502:physiology*; D038161:Snow Sports / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult