Influence of Limb Dominance on Dynamic Balance in Male Cricket Bowlers: A Cross-Sectional Comparative Study

Abstract

Background:
Cricket bowling involves repetitive unilateral loading and rapid changes in body position, requiring effective neuromuscular control and dynamic postural stability. Limb dominance may influence the distribution of loading and movement strategies between the lower limbs. However, limited evidence is available regarding the relationship between limb dominance and dynamic balance in cricket bowlers. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate differences in dynamic balance between the right and left limbs among male cricket bowlers and to examine the influence of limb dominance on Y-Balance Test performance.
Methods:
A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted among 100 male college-level cricket bowlers aged 18–25 years. Participants had a minimum of three years of playing experience and were recruited using convenience sampling from Subharti University. Dynamic balance was assessed bilaterally using the Y-Balance Test (YBT) in the anterior, posteromedial, and posterolateral directions. Leg length was measured from the anterior superior iliac spine to the distal aspect of the medial malleolus, and reach performance was standardized according to leg length. Differences between limbs were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Additional subgroup analysis was performed according to bowling-hand dominance.
Results:
The study included 100 cricket bowlers, comprising 75 right-handed and 25 left-handed participants. Significant differences were observed between the right and left limbs in YBT performance across the assessed directions (p < 0.05). The overall analysis demonstrated significant inter-limb differences in the anterior, posteromedial, and posterolateral directions. Subgroup analysis also demonstrated significant differences between limbs among right-handed bowlers, particularly in the anterior, posterolateral, and posteromedial directions. The findings indicate the presence of inter-limb asymmetry in dynamic balance among male cricket bowlers.
Conclusion:
Male cricket bowlers demonstrated significant differences in dynamic balance between the right and left limbs. These findings suggest that limb-specific assessment should be considered when evaluating dynamic postural control in cricket bowlers. Bilateral Y-Balance Test assessment may provide useful information regarding inter-limb asymmetry during sports screening and functional performance assessment. Future studies should use standardized operational definitions of limb dominance and prospective designs to investigate whether observed asymmetries are associated with bowling performance or subsequent injury.