Associations Between Physical Performance and Asymmetry in Jump, Change of Direction, and Dorsiflexion Tests in Adult Elite Female Futsal Players

Inter-limb asymmetries may negatively affect performance and increase injury risk in team sports, but evidence in women’s futsal remains scarce. This study examined the relationship between inter-limb asymmetries in vertical (countermovement jump, CMJ), horizontal (standing broad jump, SBJ), and reactive (drop jump, DJ) tests, ankle dorsiflexion (DF), and change of direction (COD; 505, L-Run, V-Cut) with physical performance variables in adult female futsal players. Thirty-two highly trained athletes from the Spanish Women’s Second Division (age: 23.4 ± 4.8 years) completed a testing battery including bilateral and unilateral jumps, linear sprints (5, 10, 15 m), COD tests, and ankle dorsiflexion. Asymmetries were calculated as percentage differences between limbs, and their associations with unilateral performance were analyzed using Pearson’s correlations. The highest asymmetries were observed in DJ (15.7 ± 13.3%) and DF (15.3 ± 13.3%), whereas L-Run and 505 displayed the lowest values. Significant moderate negative correlations were found between SBJ asymmetry and right leg SBJ performance (r = −0.356, p < 0.05), and between DF asymmetry and right leg DF (r = −0.494, p < 0.01). No other meaningful associations were identified, and agreement in the direction of asymmetry across tests was generally slight. These findings highlight the task-specific nature of inter-limb asymmetries and suggest that diverse unilateral assessments are needed to comprehensively monitor imbalances and inform targeted training interventions in female futsal.