Affiliations: [a] Physical Education School, Federal University of Rio
Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil | [b] Department of Kinesiology, California State
University, Fullerton, CA, USA
Note: [] Corresponding author: Cíntia Ehlers Botton, LAPEX,
Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, UFRGS, Felizardo, 750, Jardim
Botânico, CEP: 90690-200, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. Tel.: +5551 3308
5894; Fax: +5551 3308 5842; E-mail: cintiabotton@yahoo.com.br
Abstract: The greater torque generation capacity of muscles when contracted
alone than in combination with contralateral muscles, characterizes the
bilateral limb deficit (BLD) phenomenon. Few studies have explored the BLD in
dynamic movements, because isometric actions are considered ideal for
evaluating strength. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare BLD
between isometric and concentric actions of the knee extensors. Eleven healthy
young men (age=20.6 ± 1 yrs; weight=71.4 ± 6.4 kg; height =174.4
± 7 cm) volunteered to participate. Initially, subjects visited the
laboratory for familiarization with the test protocols. On two subsequent
randomized days they performed a test protocol with either a unilateral (right
and left limbs) or bilateral condition, with 48~h rest between. The test
protocol was composed of five isokinetic concentric actions of the knee
extensors at 60°/s and three isometric actions at a 60° angle of knee
flexion. The greatest peak torque of the two conditions was used for analyses.
Both muscle actions demonstrated greater values unilaterally (p< 0.05) than
bilaterally and BLD values were not significantly different between them (p>
0.05). Therefore, if muscle torque production is greater unilaterally, athletes
and coaches may utilize unilateral exercises to increase training loads.
