Rapid Assessment of Morphological Asymmetries Using 3D Body Scanner and Bioelectrical Impedance Technologies in Sports: A Case of Comparative Analysis Among Age Groups in Judo

• Published in: Symmetry (Basel) 2024-10, Vol.16 (10), p.1387
• Main Authors: Šimenko, Jožef, Sertić, Hrvoje, Segedi, Ivan, Čuk, Ivan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Accuracy; Age; Age groups; Assessments; Asymmetry; Athletes; Bioelectricity; Body composition; Body fat; Categories; Elbow (anatomy); Forearm; Full-body scanners (Passenger security); Impedance; Judo; Knee; Martial arts; Medical research; Monitoring; Morphology; Musculoskeletal system; Physiology; Scanning devices; Teenagers; Thigh; Three dimensional bodies; Wrist; Youth
• ISSN: 2073-8994; 2073-8994
• DOI: 10.3390/sym16101387

(1) Background: The advancement of technologies has made morphological assessment rapid and reliable. A combination of 3D body scanning (3D-BS) and bioelectrical impedance (BIA) could be essential in monitoring the morphological status of athletes and the general population and their symmetries for coaches, researchers and medical professionals. (2) Methods: The current study presents the use of Inbody-720 BIA and 3D-BS NX-16 for analyzing the asymmetry profile of an athlete in 2 min on a sample of 106 male judo competitors from the following age categories: older boys—U14 (N = 24), younger cadets—U16 (N = 31), cadets—U18 (N = 17), juniors—U21 (N = 19) and seniors (N = 15). Variables observed were arm lean mass, upper arm, elbow, forearm and wrist girth, leg lean mass, thigh length, thigh, knee and calf girth. The paired sample t-test, asymmetry index (AI) and Kruskal–Wallis analysis were used at p ≤ 0.05; (3) Results: Morphological asymmetries were detected in all age categories: seniors—three, U21—four, U18—three, U16—five and U14—four. The most common asymmetrical variable in all categories was the forearm girth, while thigh length, knee girth and upper arm girth presented symmetrical variables in all age categories. AI showed that the size of the asymmetries did not differentiate between the age groups. (4) Conclusions: The current study demonstrated great potential for combining BIA and 3D-BS for rapid asymmetry detection that would allow for monitoring and quick adjustments to the training process in youth to senior age categories.