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

Šimenko, Jožef (author), Sertić, Hrvoje (author), Segedi, Ivan (author), Čuk, Ivan (author)

(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.

• Language: English
• Keywords: sport, 3D imaging, BIA, combat sports, youth, symmetry, development, screening
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FŠ - Faculty of Sport
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2024
• Number of pages: 15 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 16, iss. 10, art. 1387
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-185792
• UDC: 796.8
• ISSN on article: 2073-8994
• DOI: 10.3390/sym16101387
• COBISS.SI-ID: 212363779
• Publication date in RUL: 20.08.2026

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Symmetry
• Shortened title: Symmetry
• Publisher: MDPI
• ISSN: 2073-8994
• COBISS.SI-ID: 517592345

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: šport, 3D slikanje, BIA, borilni športi, judo, mladina, simetrija, razvoj, presejalni pregledi