Morphological and Functional Asymmetry Among Competitive Female Fencing Athletes
Maintaining body symmetry in sports characterized by high lateralization is crucial for optimizing long-term athletic performance and mitigating injury risk. This study aimed to evaluate the extent of morphological asymmetry in anthropometric features among elite professional fencers. Additionally,...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-07-01
|
| Series: | Applied Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/14/8020 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849714321581408256 |
|---|---|
| author | Wiktoria Bany Monika Nyrć Monika Lopuszanska-Dawid |
| author_facet | Wiktoria Bany Monika Nyrć Monika Lopuszanska-Dawid |
| author_sort | Wiktoria Bany |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Maintaining body symmetry in sports characterized by high lateralization is crucial for optimizing long-term athletic performance and mitigating injury risk. This study aimed to evaluate the extent of morphological asymmetry in anthropometric features among elite professional fencers. Additionally, the presence of functional asymmetry and its associations with morphological asymmetry were assessed. Thirty-two Polish adult female fencers, aged 18–33 yrs, were examined. Data collection involved a questionnaire survey, anthropometric measurements, calculation of anthropological indices, and assessment of functional asymmetry. For the 24 bilateral anthropometric features, small differences were found in seven characteristics: foot length, subscapular skinfold thickness, upper arm circumference, minimum and maximum forearm circumference, upper limb length, and arm circumference in tension. Morphological asymmetry index did not exceed 5%. Left-sided lateralization of either the upper or lower limbs was associated with significantly high asymmetry, specifically indicating larger minimum forearm circumferences in the right limb. Continuous, individualized monitoring of morphological asymmetry and its direction in athletes is essential, demanding concurrent consideration of functional lateralization. This ongoing assessment establishes a critical baseline for evaluating training adaptations, reducing injury susceptibility, and optimizing rehabilitation strategies. Deeper investigation of symmetry within non-dominant limbs is warranted to enhance our understanding. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ac9df0aa81f14946bc8b494dfd2128cd |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-ac9df0aa81f14946bc8b494dfd2128cd2025-08-20T03:13:44ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-07-011514802010.3390/app15148020Morphological and Functional Asymmetry Among Competitive Female Fencing AthletesWiktoria Bany0Monika Nyrć1Monika Lopuszanska-Dawid2Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Physical Education, Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw, 00-968 Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Human Biology, Faculty of Physical Education, Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw, 00-968 Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Human Biology, Faculty of Physical Education, Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw, 00-968 Warsaw, PolandMaintaining body symmetry in sports characterized by high lateralization is crucial for optimizing long-term athletic performance and mitigating injury risk. This study aimed to evaluate the extent of morphological asymmetry in anthropometric features among elite professional fencers. Additionally, the presence of functional asymmetry and its associations with morphological asymmetry were assessed. Thirty-two Polish adult female fencers, aged 18–33 yrs, were examined. Data collection involved a questionnaire survey, anthropometric measurements, calculation of anthropological indices, and assessment of functional asymmetry. For the 24 bilateral anthropometric features, small differences were found in seven characteristics: foot length, subscapular skinfold thickness, upper arm circumference, minimum and maximum forearm circumference, upper limb length, and arm circumference in tension. Morphological asymmetry index did not exceed 5%. Left-sided lateralization of either the upper or lower limbs was associated with significantly high asymmetry, specifically indicating larger minimum forearm circumferences in the right limb. Continuous, individualized monitoring of morphological asymmetry and its direction in athletes is essential, demanding concurrent consideration of functional lateralization. This ongoing assessment establishes a critical baseline for evaluating training adaptations, reducing injury susceptibility, and optimizing rehabilitation strategies. Deeper investigation of symmetry within non-dominant limbs is warranted to enhance our understanding.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/14/8020symmetrybilateral featuresanthropometrywomen |
| spellingShingle | Wiktoria Bany Monika Nyrć Monika Lopuszanska-Dawid Morphological and Functional Asymmetry Among Competitive Female Fencing Athletes Applied Sciences symmetry bilateral features anthropometry women |
| title | Morphological and Functional Asymmetry Among Competitive Female Fencing Athletes |
| title_full | Morphological and Functional Asymmetry Among Competitive Female Fencing Athletes |
| title_fullStr | Morphological and Functional Asymmetry Among Competitive Female Fencing Athletes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Morphological and Functional Asymmetry Among Competitive Female Fencing Athletes |
| title_short | Morphological and Functional Asymmetry Among Competitive Female Fencing Athletes |
| title_sort | morphological and functional asymmetry among competitive female fencing athletes |
| topic | symmetry bilateral features anthropometry women |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/14/8020 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT wiktoriabany morphologicalandfunctionalasymmetryamongcompetitivefemalefencingathletes AT monikanyrc morphologicalandfunctionalasymmetryamongcompetitivefemalefencingathletes AT monikalopuszanskadawid morphologicalandfunctionalasymmetryamongcompetitivefemalefencingathletes |