Left or Right?

6 watchers

larkim Feb 2021 10:10am, 16 Feb 2021 13,532 posts	0 larkim I suppose being right footed (in terms of kicking) means you are more confident to balance on your left hand side. Ditto with long jumping, I leap with my left because that's where I have confidence in strength (I suppose). So whilst I am more "dextrous" (!) with my right foot in terms of fine motor skills, I'm doing my left side a disservice if I ignore what it is doing whilst my right foot does more clever stuff. The parallel with the hands isn't quite the same, is it? The lifting / throwing thing is odd though isn't it? I'm not sure I am particularly weaker with my left arm (I don't notice it contributing any less when I come to carrying or lifting something heavy), though perhaps I am - I don't do any strength work on any part of my body! - but I couldn't throw a thing with it with any degree of coordination.
BaronessBL Feb 2021 10:30am, 16 Feb 2021 8,727 posts	0 BaronessBL I really struggle to know my left from right at the best of times. Even with L & R on my socks I've still been known to put them on the wrong feet. Nobody ever asks me for directions and when I write a set of trail run instructions they have to be checked several times. So this challenge could have me beaten before I've even started!
Welshpoppy Feb 2021 1:28pm, 16 Feb 2021 546 posts	0 Welshpoppy Interesting subject I am right handed but because I ruptured my left Achilles I changed the way I run to compensate.This was a natural progression.But my left arm is not as strong as my right when doing weights or throwing.
HappyG(rrr) Feb 2021 1:44pm, 16 Feb 2021 37,695 posts	0 HappyG(rrr) In snowboarding if you are left for forward you are regular, right foot forward is "goofy". So I assume left is more common. They say a good way to test is for someone to push you in the back and see which foot you instinctively put forward to steady yourself. Don't do it near a cliff though! G
♪♫ Synge ♪♫ Feb 2021 1:51pm, 16 Feb 2021 39,057 posts	0 ♪♫ Synge ♪♫ G - that happened to me! I was taken waterskiing once and, for some reason which I have totally forgotten, it was important to know which my stronger/primary leg was. The instructor discovered the answer by walking behind me and giving me a little push in the back. I stepped forward leading with my right foot to brace/stop myself and that gave him his answer. Standard approach, apparently.
Surrey Phil Feb 2021 4:29pm, 16 Feb 2021 5,783 posts	0 Surrey Phil I am right-handed and right-footed even though I played at left back in a number of football teams because I didn't mind using my weaker foot. Balance is an interesting one. If taking part in a road race, I tend to keep to the middle of the road, solely to keep away from spectators shouting in me earhole and to avoid any camber (and hip) issues. However, subconsciously, does being left or right hand/footed have anything to do with road positioning when running, or is it just me?
Autumnleaves Feb 2021 4:41pm, 16 Feb 2021 16,254 posts	0 Autumnleaves Right-handed and right-footed - but also played on the left in both hockey and football. My right leg is the one that is more usually injured though so in many ways my left feels stronger - I can balance well on my left and I have more flexibility in the hip.
Dillthedog Feb 2021 7:26am, 17 Feb 2021 3,983 posts	0 Dillthedog I have no idea, but I do always wear out my right sock first. I have a draw full of unmatched left socks, so I need to find someone who wears out their left so we can do swaps.
SteveC NordRunner Feb 2021 9:12am, 17 Feb 2021 479 posts	0 SteveC NordRunner Turn one inside out. So long as there are no uncomfortable seams, one side is magically transformed to the other side!
Stevce Feb 2021 1:43pm, 17 Feb 2021 5 posts	0 Stevce On my run today I went left footed first, when I run again on Friday I will try Right footed first and let you know my own findings. Interesting research NordRunner and I like the bit about left and right socks, maybe some research about if you put your left sock on your right foot and start off with your right foot, is that as fast as right sock on left foot starting off with the left foot (are you still with me?). The bit about track running was interesting, toeing the line with your left foot. Thanks everyone for your help with this extremely important scientific research, if I get a masters as a result I will let your share in my glory !