Effect of leg dominance on ipsilateral and contralateral limb training adaptation in middle-aged women after unilateral sensorimotor and resistance exercise training.

The aim was to examine the directionality of global training effects in middle-aged women after unilateral training.

Thirty-nine middle-aged female volunteers (59.4 ± 5.4 years) were randomly assigned to one of three groups: 1. Unilateral Dominant Lower Limb Training (UDLT); 2. Unilateral Non-Dominant Lower Limb Training (UNDLT) or 3. Control group. Outcome measures assessing isometric strength, static and dynamic balance were recorded at baseline, and 1 week after 12 weeks (post-test) of training or no-intervention.

The net cross education adaptation changes of the contralateral quadriceps isometric maximum voluntary (MVC) force (F_2,34 = 4.33; p = 0.022), Stork balance score (F_2,34 = 4.26; p = 0.023) and the Star Excursion Balance test score (F_2,34 = 11.80; p = 0.001) were asymmetrical in the UNDLT group and on average, exceeded the UDLT group.

The results demonstrated asymmetrical cross education training adaptations with unilateral training of non-dominant leg (UNDLT) to contralateral homologous and heterologous muscles, with the exception of knee flexor MVC. The results of this study provide a novel exercise or rehabilitation strategy that can be employed when one of the limbs is affected.