LOWER-EXTREMITY PREFERENCE DURING GROSS AND FINE MOTOR-SKILLS PERFORMED IN SITTING AND STANDING POSTURES

The evaluation of lower limb preference in physical therapy practice i s critical in order for the clinician to assist patients with function al retraining tasks. No studies in the physical therapy literature pre sent a systematic approach to determine the criteria needed to identif y the preferred limb. This research was designed to present a series o f rests for effectiveness in determining limb preference. The purpose of this study was to determine whether lower limb preference existed i n a group of recreationally athletic women when performing either stab ility or dynamic skills with the lower extremities while sitting or st anding. The relationship of such a preference to handedness was also d etermined. Forty female recreational athletes, 20 right-handed subject s and 20 left-handed subjects, who ranged in age from 21 to 35 years, participated in this study. Subjects performed three repetitions of th e following tests in both sitting and standing: kick a ball, swing a l eg over a box, pick up a marble with the toes, and trace a triangle wi th the toes. The subjects were also asked to stand on one leg. The ord er of performing the tests was randomized. The results indicated that right-handed subjects performed activities more consistently with one lower extremity when compared with left-handed subjects, regardless of posture (sitting or standing). The difference in limb choice between right- and left-handed subjects was significant for all activities (p <.05). The considerable sensitivity of foot and leg performance follow ing neurological insult renders the assessment of foot and leg prefere nce very important for purposes of clinical rehabilitation.