Side-to-Side Asymmetries: Do They Actually Matter And What Can We Do About Them?

We all have differences between our right and left. Your dominant side may be stronger, bigger, or more muscular, or for some reason you can’t explain, your non-dominant side is one of these things. Here’s some key points from a recent research paper that summarizes results from a bunch of already existing studies, published in the October 2022 issue of Strength and Conditioning Journal.

THIS MAY SURPRISE YOU

A bunch of studies show that side to side differences contributing or associating to noncontact injuries (ACL tear, hamstring tear, etc) is questionable and unclear! Just because one leg is stronger than the other, doesn’t mean it has anything to do with your injury on that side!! It is also unclear whether reducing left-to-right difference actually impacts performance during research testing.

OK THAT’S RESEARCH…..WHAT ABOUT REAL LIFE

Truth is, injuries and performance are unpredictable and so many factors play a role that it’s hard for a research study to pinpoint exact cause-and-effect relationship. So before you totally give up on that left arm that just can’t catch up, remember that we want to live a healthy and balanced life, minimizing risk for injury. This is a great moment to realize that even if a research paper doesn’t prove something, it doesn’t mean it’s not important. It’s also important to note that when testing performance, asymmetries shown in performance testing like single leg jump tests can contribute to lower jump height and slower speeds. Moral of the story - Keep working that wimpy side!!!

SO WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT IT

These exercises were used throughout the studies to decrease differences between sides.Give them a try to reduce left-to-right differences andincrease you’re performance!!

Reference: Bettariga, Francesco MSc1,2; Turner, Anthony PhD2; Maloney, Sean PhD2; Maestroni, Luca MSc2,3; Jarvis, Paul MSc2; Bishop, Chris PhD2. The Effects of Training Interventions on Interlimb Asymmetries: A Systematic Review With Meta-analysis. Strength and Conditioning Journal 44(5):p 69-86, October 2022.