Research summary · Training and performance
Does targeting the weaker limb improve training outcomes?
A review compared programmes that prioritize a weaker leg with general training, alongside comparisons of unilateral and bilateral exercise. Eleven studies included 297 athletes completing at least four weeks of training.
- Publication year
- 2026
- First published online
- Publication type
- Systematic review
- Journal
- Sports Medicine - Open
- Population / context
- Athletes aged 12–30 · Multiple sports
What the publication reports
Asymmetry-focused programmes reduced between-leg differences more consistently. Single-leg performance tended to benefit more from targeted or unilateral work, while bilateral training sometimes performed better on two-leg tasks.
Limits and interpretation
Protocols and tests varied substantially, and the review does not establish a universally superior programme. Reducing an asymmetry is not itself evidence that injuries are prevented; the weaker limb also depends on the task measured.
Read the source
Consult the original record for the full author list, methods, references, funding and competing-interest disclosures.
Are Asymmetry-Focused Training Interventions More Effective than General Programs in Reducing Interlimb Asymmetries and Improving Athletic Performance? A Systematic Review
Original publication / indexed recordPMID: 42870065DOI: 10.1186/s40798-026-01119-5Full text at the sourceReader discussion
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