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Comparison of tensiomyographic neuromuscular characteristics between muscles of the dominant and non-dominant lower extremity in male soccer players

  • Sports Medicine
  • Published:
Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy Aims and scope

Abstract

Purpose

Tensiomyography (TMG) has been used to assess neuromuscular characteristics of muscles of the lower extremity in soccer players. However, the effects of lower extremity dominance on TMG characteristics in this population have not been reported to date. The purpose of this study was to compare the TMG neuromuscular characteristics between the dominant and non-dominant lower extremity in male soccer players.

Methods

Thirty-eight consecutive healthy male soccer players underwent resting TMG assessment of vastus medialis (VM), vastus lateralis (VL), rectus femoris (RF), semitendinosus (ST), biceps femoris (BF), gastrocnemius medialis (GM), and gastrocnemius lateralis (GL) in both lower extremities. The maximal displacement, delay time, contraction time, sustained time, and half-relaxation time were obtained and compared between both sides.

Results

There were no significant differences in the vast majority of the TMG parameters between both lower extremities. The dominant side demonstrated higher VM contraction time (p = 0.008), RF sustained time (p = 0.009), RF half-relaxation time (p = 0.01), and BF sustained time (p = 0.04), but lower VL contraction time (p = 0.03) and VL delay time (p = 0.02) compared to the non-dominant side.

Conclusion

In general, TMG-assessed neuromuscular characteristics of the VM, VL, RF, ST, BF, GM, and GL were not affected by lower extremity dominance in male soccer players. Therefore, there is no need to assess both sides when using TMG to monitor the response to training or muscles at risk of injury in soccer players unless there is a specific reason.

Level of evidence

Prognostic study, Level II.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Department of Surgery at Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona. This manuscript was developed as part of a Doctorate Degree performed in this Department. The authors would also like to thank Julio Tous, PhD, for his excellent suggestions in the discussion of this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mutualidad de Futbolistas – Federación Española de Fútbol, Delegación Cataluña, Ronda Sant Pere 19-21, 08010, Barcelona, Spain

    Pedro Alvarez-Diaz, Gilbert Steinbacher, Marta Rius & Ramon Cugat

  2. Fundación García-Cugat, Barcelona, Spain

    Pedro Alvarez-Diaz, Silvia Ramon, Roberto Seijas & Ramon Cugat

  3. Artroscopia gc, S.L., Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hospital Quirón, Barcelona, Spain

    Pedro Alvarez-Diaz, Roberto Seijas & Ramon Cugat

  4. Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain

    Pedro Alvarez-Diaz, Silvia Ramon & Roberto Seijas

  5. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology. Parc de Salut Mar, Hospital de Mar and Hospital de l’Esperança, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, Spain

    Eduard Alentorn-Geli

  6. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Hospital Quirón, Barcelona, Spain

    Silvia Ramon & Miguel Marin

  7. Department of Surgery, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

    Jordi Ballester

Authors
  1. Pedro Alvarez-Diaz
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  2. Eduard Alentorn-Geli
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  3. Silvia Ramon
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  4. Miguel Marin
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  5. Gilbert Steinbacher
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  6. Marta Rius
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  7. Roberto Seijas
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  8. Jordi Ballester
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  9. Ramon Cugat
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Pedro Alvarez-Diaz.

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Alvarez-Diaz, P., Alentorn-Geli, E., Ramon, S. et al. Comparison of tensiomyographic neuromuscular characteristics between muscles of the dominant and non-dominant lower extremity in male soccer players. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 24, 2259–2263 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-014-3298-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-014-3298-5

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