Influence of Leg Dominance on Single-Leg Stance Performance During Dynamic Conditions: An Investigation into the Validity of Symmetry Hypothesis for Dynamic Postural Control in Healthy Individuals

Abstract

Objective: The primary purpose of the present study was to examine differences in balance performance between the dominant and nondominant legs during dynamic balance tasks in healthy individuals with no regular exercise backgrounds. As a secondary purpose, gender differences in single-leg stance were also investigated. Material and Methods: Twenty-one men and 24 women participated in this study. Single-leg balance performance was evaluated by the Biodex Stability System SD. All subjects were tested at level 1 for 20 sec, and 1-minute rest intervals were provided among 6 trials for each leg. Results: According to the results, there was no multivariate effect of leg dominance on any stability index, indicating symmetry between limbs in terms of balance performance. Mean comparisons showed that women had significantly better balance scores than men on overall (p<0.05), antero-posterior (p<0.05), and medio-lateral (p<0.05) stability indexes. Conclusion: Functional symmetry exists between the dominant and nondominant leg in all stability indexes of balance performance of sedentary individuals. Female subjects swayed less than males on both the dominant and the nondominant leg measurements in all directions (overall, antero-posterior, and medio-lateral directions).