{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,20]],"date-time":"2026-07-20T05:01:42Z","timestamp":1784523702655,"version":"3.55.0"},"reference-count":31,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"3","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,17]],"date-time":"2026-07-17T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1784246400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["JFMK"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: Inter-limb asymmetry has been widely studied as a potential determinant of physical performance in able-bodied athletes; however, its functional relevance in athletes with neurological impairments such as spastic hemiparesis remains unclear. This study aimed to examine the associations between lower-limb isometric strength, inter-limb asymmetry, physical performance, and match external-load variables in elite CP football players. Methods: Eleven male football players with spastic hemiparesis from the Spanish national team competing at the 2024 IFCPF World Cup participated in this observational cross-sectional study. Maximal isometric strength of the plantar flexors, adductors, and hamstrings was assessed using a belt-stabilised dynamometer. Inter-limb asymmetry was calculated as a percentage difference between affected and non-affected limbs. Physical performance was evaluated using sprint, change-of-direction, dribbling, and intermittent endurance tests. Match external-load variables were collected during official competition using inertial measurement units. Associations were analysed using Spearman\u2019s rank correlations, and between-group comparisons were conducted using a median split based on asymmetry magnitude. Results: Inter-limb asymmetry did not significantly differentiate physical performance outcomes across any field-based tests (p &gt; 0.05). Associations between isometric strength or asymmetry and field-based performance were limited and did not remain statistically significant after false discovery rate correction. In contrast, plantar flexor asymmetry showed significant negative associations with mechanical work (\u03c1 = \u22120.84; q = 0.010) and metabolic power (\u03c1 = \u22120.83; q = 0.010), which remained robust after multiple-comparison control. Conclusions: Inter-limb strength asymmetry did not appear to be a primary determinant of field-based physical performance in CP football players with spastic hemiparesis. Most associations between strength, asymmetry, and performance should be considered exploratory. However, plantar flexor asymmetry showed a consistent association with selected mechanical and metabolic match-load variables, suggesting that neuromuscular asymmetry may influence specific aspects of match demands. Given the exploratory team-study design and limited sample size, these findings should be interpreted cautiously and require confirmation in larger cohorts.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/jfmk11030276","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,20]],"date-time":"2026-07-20T02:32:08Z","timestamp":1784514728000},"page":"276","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Inter-Limb Asymmetry and Its Limited Role in Physical Performance and Match Demands in Football Players with Spastic Hemiparesis\u2014An Exploratory Team Study"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"11","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6810-0911","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Iv\u00e1n","family":"Pe\u00f1a-Gonz\u00e1lez","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Sports Research Centre Institute, Department of Sports Sciences, Miguel Hern\u00e1ndez University of Elche, 03202 Elche, Spain"},{"name":"Spanish Federation of Sports for people with CP and ABI (FEDPC), 28008 Madrid, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5232-5825","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Alba","family":"Rold\u00e1n","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Sports Research Centre Institute, Department of Sports Sciences, Miguel Hern\u00e1ndez University of Elche, 03202 Elche, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Bartolom\u00e9 Leal","family":"Barquero","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Spanish Federation of Sports for people with CP and ABI (FEDPC), 28008 Madrid, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5341-9791","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Alejandro","family":"Ca\u00f1a-Pino","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Spanish Federation of Sports for people with CP and ABI (FEDPC), 28008 Madrid, Spain"},{"name":"Surgical Medical-Therapy Department, Medicine Faculty and Health Sciences, University of Extremadura, 06006 Badajoz, Spain"},{"name":"Research Group PhysioH (Fisioterapia e Hipoterapia), University of Extremadura, 06006 Badajoz, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2291-5899","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Manuel","family":"Moya-Ram\u00f3n","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Sports Research Centre Institute, Department of Sports Sciences, Miguel Hern\u00e1ndez University of Elche, 03202 Elche, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,17]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","first-page":"8","article-title":"A report: The definition and classification of cerebral palsy April 2006","volume":"109","author":"Rosenbaum","year":"2007","journal-title":"Dev. 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