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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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2024-04-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Sports and Active Living |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2024.1382779/full |
| _version_ | 1827291138624585728 |
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| author | Katharina Borgmann Stefan Panzer Sam Limpach Thomas Muehlbauer |
| author_facet | Katharina Borgmann Stefan Panzer Sam Limpach Thomas Muehlbauer |
| author_sort | Katharina Borgmann |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T12:30:41Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6c959162d2c348e9ba3dd1374796a016 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2624-9367 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T12:30:41Z |
| publishDate | 2024-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Sports and Active Living |
| spelling | doaj.art-6c959162d2c348e9ba3dd1374796a0162024-04-08T04:40:32ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sports and Active Living2624-93672024-04-01610.3389/fspor.2024.13827791382779Inter-limb differences in upper quarter mobility/stability are not associated with performance in competitive swimmersKatharina Borgmann0Stefan Panzer1Sam Limpach2Thomas Muehlbauer3Division of Movement and Training Sciences/Biomechanics of Sport, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, GermanyInstitute of Sport Science, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, GermanyInstitute of Sport Science, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, GermanyDivision of Movement and Training Sciences/Biomechanics of Sport, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, GermanyBackgroundThe 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.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2024.1382779/fullshoulder functionY Balance Test–Upper Quarterdistance reachingreach asymmetryside differenceathletes |
| spellingShingle | Katharina Borgmann Stefan Panzer Sam Limpach Thomas Muehlbauer Inter-limb differences in upper quarter mobility/stability are not associated with performance in competitive swimmers Frontiers in Sports and Active Living shoulder function Y Balance Test–Upper Quarter distance reaching reach asymmetry side difference athletes |
| title | Inter-limb differences in upper quarter mobility/stability are not associated with performance in competitive swimmers |
| title_full | Inter-limb differences in upper quarter mobility/stability are not associated with performance in competitive swimmers |
| title_fullStr | Inter-limb differences in upper quarter mobility/stability are not associated with performance in competitive swimmers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Inter-limb differences in upper quarter mobility/stability are not associated with performance in competitive swimmers |
| title_short | Inter-limb differences in upper quarter mobility/stability are not associated with performance in competitive swimmers |
| title_sort | inter limb differences in upper quarter mobility stability are not associated with performance in competitive swimmers |
| topic | shoulder function Y Balance Test–Upper Quarter distance reaching reach asymmetry side difference athletes |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2024.1382779/full |
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