Exploring the relationship between lower limb strength, strength asymmetries, and curvilinear sprint performance: Findings from a pilot study.

Team sports involve various sprinting actions, including curvilinear sprints, yet their neuromuscular factors have been understudied. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the relationship between lower limb muscle strength, strength asymmetries, linear sprint and curvilinear sprint performance. At two visits 12 male (age: 24.8 ± 4.7 years, height: 1.82 ± 0.06 m, body mass: 80 ± 6.58 kg) and 6 female (age: 20.8 ± 1.33 years, body height: 1.60 ± 0.02 m, body mass: 55.3 ± 2.88 kg) student-athletes completed isometric strength measurements of the knee flexors (K), knee extensors (K), hip abductors (H), hip adductors (H), as well as linear sprint and curvilinear sprint to the right and left. Sprint split times over 30 m (t) were measured and curvilinear sprint split time deficits () and inter-limb strength asymmetries were calculated. Very large negative correlations were observed between H and H strength on one side and of curvilinear sprint to the left ( = -0.75 and -0.71;  < 0.001) and right ( = -0.81 and -0.70;  < 0.001) on the other. The regression model consisting of , , and explained 76% and 67% of the variance in left and right curvilinear sprint , respectively. Similarly, 59% of the left curvilinear sprint variance was explained by the H and K strength. High inter-limb H strength symmetry was related to better left and right curvilinear sprint ( = 0.71 and ρ = 0.75,  < 0.001). These results highlight the pivotal role of hip strength for curvilinear sprint speed, and emphasize the need of symmetrical H muscle strength to optimize neuromuscular function during curvilinear sprint.