Journals Information
International Journal of Human Movement and Sports Sciences Vol. 8(3), pp. 79 - 85
DOI: 10.13189/saj.2020.080301
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Investigation of the Effects of Leg Dominance on Cross-Transfer of Flexibility after a Unilateral Treatment with Foam Roller - A Pilot Study
Katerina Daskalaki *, George Pafis , Asimenia Gioftsidou , Anastasia Beneka , Evangelos Bebetsos , Paraskevi Malliou
Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, Democritus University of Thrace, Greece
ABSTRACT
Cross Transfer (CT) refers to the enhancement of performance of a non-trained limb after unilateral training of its opposite homologous limb. Another concept that sometimes is investigated when examining CT is "asymmetrical transfer" (AT), term that implies that the magnitude of transfer is not even for the two directions (i.e. from dominant to non-dominant limb and vice versa). While the existence of AT for strength or skills is already investigated, according to our knowledge previous research has not examined if laterality has an influence on the magnitude of CT of flexibility (CToF) in the lower limbs. The aim of the present study was to examine if a unilateral application of Foam Roller (FR) to the ankle plantar flexors of female exercisers would cause a CToF to their untrained limb and if leg dominance has an influence on the magnitude of CToF (i.e. if the CToF is greater from the dominant to the non-dominant limb or vice versa). According to the statistical analysis, the FR protocol used was effective in increasing the participants' ipsilateral and contralateral ankle range of motion (ROM) independently of limb dominance, indicating that when referring to CToF through FR the transfer will probably occur symmetrically. This finding adds to the literature new data about CToF of the lower limbs in relation to laterality. If these results could be expanded by future researches and could be established that unilaterally injured persons benefit from CToF independently of limb dominance, that would be a major contribution to the field of rehabilitation.
KEYWORDS
Cross Education, Limb Dominance, Laterality, Self-myofascial Release, Asymmetrical Transfer, Flexibility, Weight Bearing Lunge Test
Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Katerina Daskalaki , George Pafis , Asimenia Gioftsidou , Anastasia Beneka , Evangelos Bebetsos , Paraskevi Malliou , "Investigation of the Effects of Leg Dominance on Cross-Transfer of Flexibility after a Unilateral Treatment with Foam Roller - A Pilot Study," International Journal of Human Movement and Sports Sciences, Vol. 8, No. 3, pp. 79 - 85, 2020. DOI: 10.13189/saj.2020.080301.
(b). APA Format:
Katerina Daskalaki , George Pafis , Asimenia Gioftsidou , Anastasia Beneka , Evangelos Bebetsos , Paraskevi Malliou (2020). Investigation of the Effects of Leg Dominance on Cross-Transfer of Flexibility after a Unilateral Treatment with Foam Roller - A Pilot Study. International Journal of Human Movement and Sports Sciences, 8(3), 79 - 85. DOI: 10.13189/saj.2020.080301.