Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2026, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (4): 949-963.doi: 10.12307/2026.523

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Effects of inter-limb asymmetry on athletic performance from the perspective of bilateral limb control strategy

Jin Zhiyong1, Wang Yufeng2, Zhao Binjie3, Xiong Minquan4, Yan Li2   

  1. 1Graduate School, 2Institute of Sports Science, Harbin Sport University, Harbin 150006, Heilongjiang Province, China; 3Heilongjiang Research Institute of Sports Science, Harbin 150009, Heilongjiang Province, China; 4Moray House School of Education and Sport, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH89YL, Scotland, United Kingdom
  • Received:2024-10-16 Accepted:2024-12-19 Online:2026-02-08 Published:2025-05-21
  • Contact: Yan Li, Researcher, Doctoral supervisor, Institute of Sports Science, Harbin Sport University, Harbin 150006, Heilongjiang Province, China
  • About author:Jin Zhiyong, PhD candidate, Graduate School, Harbin Sport University, Harbin 150006, Heilongjiang Province, China
  • Supported by:
    National Sports Bureau Science and Technology Innovation Project, No. 22KJCX064 (to YL)

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Inter-limb asymmetry is a common phenomenon observed during human growth and development. Prolonged specialized training can lead to specific adaptations in inter-limb asymmetry among athletes.
OBJECTIVE: To review the formation causes, manifestations, and impacts of inter-limb asymmetry on sports performance, and provide an overview of the relevant assessment methods and intervention strategies.

METHODS: A literature search was conducted in the CNKI, WanFang, PubMed, and Web of Science databases from their inception to September 2024. The search terms included “asymmetry, asymmetries, asymmetric, asymmetrical, imbalance, strength, power, force, jump, sprint, athletic performance, anthropometry, injury” in English and Chinese. After excluding duplicate publications, irrelevant content, and conference papers, a total of 131 articles were finally included for analysis.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Inter-limb asymmetry can be influenced by various factors including genetics, task demands, training regimens, injuries, fatigue, and limb preference. These factors lead to being primarily manifested in anatomical structure, strength performance, and task-specific asymmetry. (2) An increase in inter-limb asymmetry can result in impaired performance in bilateral in-phase symmetric movements. However, the relationship between increased inter-limb asymmetry and bilateral out-of-phase symmetric movements remains unclear and requires further investigation. (3) Training interventions have been shown to effectively mitigate inter-limb asymmetry, with unilateral training demonstrating superior outcomes compared with bilateral training. The choice of training methods and content should be tailored to meet the specific demands of the sport. (4) To further clarify the relationship between inter-limb asymmetry and athletic performance, it is recommended that future research adopt the concept of “task specificity” in inter-limb asymmetry. This includes standardizing study designs, selecting sensitive testing methods and indicators, unifying calculation methods to provide more high-quality evidence, and establishing categorized warning threshold standards for inter-limb asymmetry in different sports.

Key words: bilateral limbs, imbalance, difference, strength, athletic performance, power, jumping, neuromuscular, engineered tissue construction

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