Work

Morphological inter-limb asymmetry in youth judokas is independent of competitive level and sex

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Inter-limb asymmetry is commonly regarded as a potential limitation for athletic performance and a contributor to injury risk. However, the influence of training status and sex on asymmetry in judokas remains poorly understood. Therefore, this study aimed to: (1) quantify inter-limb asymmetry in lean mass, bone mineral density, bone mineral content, and fat mass, and (2) examine how inter-limb morphological asymmetry varies across competitive levels (national vs. European) and sexes among young competitive judokas. METHODS: Lean mass, bone mineral density, bone mineral content, and fat mass were assessed using Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry in 27 male and 21 female competitive judokas aged 13-17 years. Comparisons between limbs were performed using paired-samples t-tests. Differences in asymmetry across competitive levels (national vs. European) and sexes were analyzed using Mann-Whitney U tests. RESULTS: Inter-limb asymmetry magnitudes ranged from 1.47% to 8.24% across groups. Overall, judokas showed greater values in the dominant limb compared to the non-dominant limb for most measures (p ≤ 0. 010). Mann-Whitney U tests identified significant differences in asymmetry between competitive levels only in lower-limb fat mass for both males (p = 0.015) and females (p = 0.033), and in lower-limb bone mineral content for females (p = 0.039). No significant differences in asymmetry were observed between sexes. CONCLUSION: While inter-limb differences were present, the magnitude of asymmetry was generally small (≤ 8%) and did not differ significantly between competitive levels or sexes. These findings suggest that reducing morphological asymmetry in judokas may not be a priority, regardless of competition level or sex.

Source: BMC Sports Science Medicine and Rehabilitation

DOI: 10.1186/s13102-025-01440-8

Authors: Joachim D’Hondt, Laurent Chapelle, Tijl Lindekens, Peter Clarys

Institution: Vrije Universiteit Brussel

Language: English

Topic: Martial Arts: Techniques, Psychology, and Education

Subfield: Safety Research

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,890