Does 10% Lower-Limb Asymmetry Matter?
New research identifies exactly how much imbalance is too much and it's effects on performance.
Does a tiny bit of weakness in one leg actually hold you back in sport or in the gym? If you train, coach, or compete in basketball or any sport where jumping and agility are key, then chances are you know that no one is perfectly symmetrical. We’re not built that way. But does it show up on the field? This study took a look at this, exploring whether having more than a 10% strength or power difference between your legs actually impacts your game.
PMID: 41283550
What Was the Study About?
Aim: To test if basketball players with more than 10% difference in leg strength or power (inter-limb asymmetry) perform worse in jumping and agility tasks than those with less than 10% asymmetry.
Why it matters: Many coaches flag 10% as a danger zone, claiming that exceeding it risks both injury and performance loss; however, the evidence in basketball is mixed.
Asymmetry in Sprinting
This study, published in the Journal of Sport and Health Science in 2025, explores the conventional belief that perfect symmetry is essential for optimal sprinting performance. The research provides insights into the role of asymmetry in elite sprinting and its implications for training and performance optimisation.
Methods: How Was It Done?
Participants: 20 competitive male university basketball players, averaging 24 years old, all injury-free and experienced.
Tests: Each athlete completed a battery of performance tests, including single-leg and triple-leg hops, countermovement jumps (CMJs), change-of-direction (COD) sprint drills, and the sport-specific Lane Agility Test.
Measurements: Asymmetry was calculated for each test, and performances were compared for players above and below the 10% threshold.
