Comparison Of Bilateral And Unilateral Strength In Trained Ncaa Division Iii Football Players

Download or read book Comparison of Bilateral and Unilateral Strength in Trained NCAA Division Iii Football Players written by Andrew K. Papirio and published by . This book was released on 2022 with total page 82 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: ABSTRACT: The bilateral deficit (BD) is a well-established phenomenon describing the difference in force capabilities between bilateral and unilateral movements. The majority of research has used seated machine-based protocols to measure the BD and deduce training implications. However, these are uncommon in modern strength training practices and do not reflect the movement patterns found in sport. The purpose of this study was to use a ground-based multi-joint exercise to determine if a BD was present in trained athletes. Forty trained NCAA Division III football players (20.9 + 0.8 years, 209.7 + 30.1 lb., 71.2 + 2.2 in) completed a bilateral and unilateral 1RM deadlift. Participants were divided into two groups to ensure that fatigue and the order of the 1RM tests did not have any effect. Group A (n = 17) completed the bilateral 1RM deadlift first, Group B (n = 23) completed the unilateral 1RM deadlift first. The remaining test was performed 48-72 hours later to provide adequate rest. Unilateral 1RM values were multiplied by two and compared to the participants’ bilateral 1RM. A significant bilateral deficit was present in both groups (M = 102.5). Participants were significantly stronger on one leg, relatively. Despite perceptions about bilateral facilitation, experienced athletes with a balanced training history appear to experience a BD and possess the capacity to be stronger on one leg. These findings suggest that trained athletes may benefit from unilateral training for the development of strength.