Abstract
Muscle asymmetry is used as an indicator of overload in sport training, associated with injury incidence. Aim of the work was to assess the correlation of injuries with unilateral functional asymmetry of forearm muscles in sport climbers.
Methods: 24 elite sport climbers were tested. The group was deliberately selected in a way that 12 climbers (7 men, 5 women; 25,8 +- 7,3 years old; 67,4 +- 12,1 kg; 176,3 +- 10,1 cm) stated healed injury of upper limbs connected to climbing training and 12 climbers (6 men and 6 women; 22,2 +- 3,9 years old; 58,5 +- 9,4 kg; 168,1 +- 7,9 cm) who did not have any injury of upper limbs in the last three years.
The ratio of maximal isometric force of flexors and extensors of fingers was considered as an indicator of muscle asymmetry. Results: The ratio of isometric forces of flexors and xtensors in the group of climbers who underwent an injury was 6,3 +- 1,3, in the group without injury 5,7 +- 1,9; P= 0,36; np 2 = 0,04.
Most common injuries in the monitored groupof elite climbers were tendovaginitis, tendinitis and ulnar and radial epicondylitis. Conclusion: correlation between injury incidence and maximal isometric force ratio of flexors and extensors of fingers in the selected group of climbers was not proved.