Handedness and Footedness: Relations to Differences in Sprinting Speed and Multiple Sprints Performance in Prepubertal Boys

Abstract

Physical performance and movement skills are differentiated by brain hemispheric dominance. Relations of handedness and footedness to differences in sprint speed and multiple sprints performances were investigated in 362 prepubertal, male, novice wrestlers. Participants with two months of irregular training experience were grouped by hand and foot preferences and matched on age and anthropometry. Mean running speed was associated with the number of sprints and handedness, but not with footedness. The decrease in sprint speed was less for right-handed subjects, who also had better sprinting speed and multiple sprint performance. Symmetrical arm and leg strength development for left-handers should be emphasized.