Inter-limb differences in upper quarter mobility/stability are not associated with performance in competitive swimmers
BackgroundThe Y Balance Test-Upper Quarter (YBT-UQ) is a cost-effective, well-established, closed kinetic chain test to assess inter-limb asymmetries in the upper quarter that could negatively affect swimming performance. Thus, the aim of the present study was to determine YBT-UQ performances and in...
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
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Frontiers Media S.A.,
2024-04-01T00:00:00Z.
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| Summary: | BackgroundThe Y Balance Test-Upper Quarter (YBT-UQ) is a cost-effective, well-established, closed kinetic chain test to assess inter-limb asymmetries in the upper quarter that could negatively affect swimming performance. Thus, the aim of the present study was to determine YBT-UQ performances and inter-limb differences as well as its association with swimming performance in athletes with diverging levels of expertise.MethodsForty female and male competitive swimmers (age range: 10-22 years) with different expertise levels (A-squad: n = 9, B-squad: n = 12, C-squad: n = 19) were tested (reach distances for the YBT-UQ) and swimming performance was calculated using the ratio of individual to world best time.ResultsYBT-UQ performances (i.e., inferolateral reach direction for the dominant arm: p = .027, ηp2 = .12 and the non-dominant arm: p = .031, ηp2 = .17) but not YBT-UQ inter-limb differences significantly differed between groups and were largest in swimmers with the lowest expertise level (i.e., C-squad). Further, YBT-UQ performances (i.e., inferolateral reach direction [r = −.68 to −.70, both p < .05] and composite score [r = −.65 to −.67, both p < .05] for both arms and medial reach direction for the non-dominant arm [r = −.64, p < .05]) but not inter-limb differences were significantly and negatively correlated with swimming performance among B-squad swimmers.ConclusionsOur results suggest that inter-limb differences in upper quarter mobility/stability are not influenced by the level of expertise and have no significant associations with swimming performance. However, greater reach distances were correlated with lower swimming performance for the B-squad swimmers indicating that a training-related increase in upper quarter mobility/stability could worsen swimming performance in those athletes. |
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| Item Description: | 2624-9367 10.3389/fspor.2024.1382779 |