Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 20, 2025
Muscle Imbalances: Testing and Training Functional Eccentric Hamstring Strength in Athletic Populations
Published on: May 1, 2018
Body Asymmetry and Sports Specialization: An Exploratory Anthropometric Comparison of Adolescent Canoeists and
Carlos Abraham Herrera-Amante1,2,3, William Carvajal-Veitía3,4, Rodrigo Yáñez-Sepúlveda5
1Nutritional Assessment and Nutritional Care Laboratory (LECEN), Division of Health Sciences, Tonalá University Center, University of Guadalajara (UdeG), Tonalá 45425, Mexico.
Abstract:
Background/Objectives: The evaluation of body asymmetry between the right and left sides of the body is crucial in the context of sports because of its potential impact on performance and injury prevention. This study analyzed the anthropometric differences between the right and left sides of the body in adolescent (13.0 [2.0] years) male canoeists and kayakers from Spain. This study aimed to explore the asymmetries associated with these disciplines. Methods: Anthropometric assessments were carried out on 27 male adolescents (13 canoeists and 14 kayakers). A total of 58 anthropometric variables were assessed, including 23 pairs of bilateral variables and 12 unilateral measurements. The evaluations included basic measures, skinfolds, girths, lengths, and breadths. Relative differences between sides were calculated via the bilateral asymmetry index (%BAI). Nonparametric tests, such as the Wilcoxon signed-rank test for within-group comparisons and the Mann-Whitney U test for between-group comparisons, were applied. Results: Comparisons between body sides within the groups revealed significant asymmetries in the subscapular skinfold (p = 0.010) in canoeists and in the mid-thigh girth (p = 0.041) in kayakers. Among the groups, differences were found in the subscapular skinfold (p = 0.010) and the bicep skinfold (p = 0.038) on the right side. Conclusions: Although significant differences were found in some variables, no distinctive profile of the differences between canoeists and kayakers was established in the categories analyzed. These results suggest that, in general, body asymmetries do not significantly distinguish between these disciplines within the sample studied. Further research is needed to better understand the implications of these differences for performance and injury prevention in specific adolescent sports contexts.
Related Concept Videos
01:09Changes in the Appendicular Skeleton with Age
Initially, the limb buds consist of a core of mesenchyme covered by a layer of ectoderm. The ectoderm at the end of the limb bud thickens to form a narrow crest called the apical ectodermal ridge. This ridge stimulates the underlying...
01:18Axial and Appendicular Muscles
Axial Muscles
Axial muscles, situated along the body's midline, are intricately connected to the axial skeleton, which includes the skull, spine, ribs, and sternum. These muscles facilitate facial expressions and...
01:27Exercise and Muscle Performance
Endurance exercises
Endurance exercises involve running, swimming, or cycling, which require repetitive movements with low force output. When a person engages in endurance exercise, a few noticeable changes occur in their skeletal muscles. For instance, the number of capillaries...
01:20Introduction to the Skeletal System
Components of the Skeletal System
Bone, or osseous tissue, is a hard connective tissue that forms an internal support structure for the human body. Bones shield vulnerable organs and soft tissue from external forces. For example, the vertebral bones protect and support the spinal cord.
Cartilage, a semi-rigid connective tissue found in regions such as...
04:49Robbers Cave