The purpose of the master's thesis was to investigate the occurrence of lateral asymmetries, to analyze the differences between the preferred and non-preferred leg, and to determine the impact of fatigue and injuries, especially on the biomechanical parameters of running, by recording biomechanical parameters during a continuous 10 km submaximal run and performing laboratory strength measurements
In the biomechanical parameters of running, 48,72 % of subjects showed lateral asymmetry, the largest was 31,83 % in medial-lateral acceleration, in basic strength parameters, lateral asymmetry was shown in 53,85 % of subjects, the largest was in ankle strength 22,10 % at an asymmetry threshold of 10 %. The average value of asymmetry was 10,85 ± 2,46 %. Of a total of 11 biomechanical parameters, we statistically confirmed significant differences (p < 0,05) between the preferred and non-preferred leg for 5 parameters with small to medium effect sizes using a two-tailed t-test for dependent samples. The largest effect size was ground reaction force (p = 0,003; ES = 0,514). A statistically significant increase in leg asymmetries during running was confirmed for 6 parameters ranging from 1,3 to 7,1 %. The largest effect size was for differences in contact time (p < 0,001; ES = 0,858). There are small to moderate (r = 0,317 – 0,552) statistically significant positive or negative correlations between effort indicators and biomechanical parameters, which both in the 2nd and 9th km show a very similar magnitude and direction.Using binary logistic regression, we found that runners with previous injuries were 2,25 times more likely to have lateral asymmetries (p = 0,019), but the model was not statistically significant. In general, there are no clear differences in the magnitude of asymmetries between injured and healthy runners in biomechanical and strength parameters. Through the analysis of mixed models, we found that there are individual statistically significant associations between biomechanical and strength parameters. Between the 2nd and 9th km, there are no significant differences in the influence of fundamental strength asymmetries on specific biomechanical running asymmetries.
There are methodological gaps in the field of research on lateral asymmetries in endurance runners, making it difficult to draw parallels between different sets of measurements and tests. Continuous field measurement of running with portable sensors has the potential to improve the understanding of biomechanical parameters of running and elucidate causal links between asymmetries and injuries, which will require improved sensor accuracy and standardized measurement protocols
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