title: Neuromuscular asymmetries in the lower limbs of elite female youth basketball players and the application of the skillful limb model of comparison.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Compare the ability of commonly used comparison models to detect neuromuscular asymmetries. A secondary purpose was to determine which neuromuscular task(s) has the greatest sensitivity to identify asymmetries based on the ASI (asymmetry index) calculation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Elite female youth basketball players (N = 29, age = 15.7 ± 1.34 y) performed the single leg countermovement jump in vertical, horizontal, and lateral directions, the star excursion balance test in the anterior, posteromedial, and posterolateral directions, and the sprint test with change of direction. Paired t-tests compared right and left limbs, the dominant (DL) and non-dominant (NDL) limbs, and the more/less skillful limbs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The coincident identification between the more skillful leg and the leg subjectively described as the DL was low for all of the tasks performed (35%-52%). There were significant differences between the more and less skillful legs for all tasks, while performances between the right and left limbs and DL and NDL differed significantly for only one task each. The largest ASI detected in this study was found in the vertical single leg countermovement jump (14.11%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The skillful limb model of comparison may be more useful than other models to detect neuromuscular asymmetries.
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Sport Sciences (EUSES), Universitat de Girona, Salt, Catalonia, Spain; Blanquerna Faculty of Psychology, Education Sciences and Sport (FPCEE), Universitat Ramon Llull, Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: afortvan@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Azahara
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fort-Vanmeerhaeghe
authors.affiliation: Florida International University, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Department of Athletic Training, Miami, FL, USA; Pennsylvania State University, Department of Kinesiology, Athletic Training/Sports Medicine Program, University Park, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Alicia M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Montalvo
authors.affiliation: Blanquerna School of Health Sciences, Universitat Ramon Llull, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Mercè
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sitjà-Rabert
authors.affiliation: Division of Sports Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA; Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA; Center for Cognition, Action & Perception, Department of Psychology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Adam W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Kiefer
authors.affiliation: Division of Sports Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA; Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA; Sports Health and Performance Institute, Ohio State University, Sports Medicine, Ohio State University Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA; Micheli Center for Sports Injury Prevention, Waltham, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Gregory D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Myer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D056352:Athletes; D001490:Basketball / Q000502:physiology; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000502:physiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000502:physiology*; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Imbalance(s); Injury; Rehabilitation; Return to sport