Lower-Limb Strength and Balance Asymmetries in Adolescent Female Basketball Players

Purpose: Adolescent female basketball players experience increased risk of lower-limb injury, particularly during periods of rapid growth and maturation. Lower-limb strength and balance asymmetries are recognized contributors to injury risk and are commonly assessed after injury, yet they are less frequently evaluated as part of preventive screening in healthy athletes.

Methods: Twenty-two female U18 basketball players (mean age, 16.2 ± 1.2 years) underwent preventive assessment of lower-limb symmetry. Isokinetic knee flexor and extensor strength were measured at angular velocities of 60°/s, 180°/s, and 240°/s, with peak torque and hamstring-to-quadriceps (H:Q) ratios analysed. Dynamic balance was assessed using the Y-Balance Test (YBT), with reach distances normalized to limb length. Limb Symmetry Index (LSI) was calculated for all measures. Clinically relevant asymmetry was defined as LSI >10% or an anterior YBT reach difference >4 cm.

Results: At the group level, lower-limb symmetry appeared generally acceptable, with mean LSI values below 10% for isokinetic strength, H:Q ratios, and YBT performance. However, in most of the tested parameters, 25% of athletes demonstrated strength asymmetries exceeding 10%. On the YBT, 32% of participants exhibited LSI >10% in at least one reach direction, and 36% of athletes demonstrated anterior reach asymmetry greater than 4 cm, indicating potential functional imbalance.

Conclusion: Although group-level

Findings: suggest good symmetry, a substantial proportion of healthy adolescent female basketball players display clinically meaningful individual asymmetries in strength and dynamic balance. These asymmetries may represent neuromuscular profiles relevant to lower-limb injury risk and support the use of preventive screening to identify athletes who may benefit from targeted injury-prevention strategies.