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Journals / Akdeniz Spor Bilimleri Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 9 Sayı: 1

Sex- and Activity-Specific Differences in Hand Anthropometry and Asymmetry in Volleyball Players and Sedentary Young Adults

Voleybolcular ve Sedanter Genç Yetişkinlerde El Antropometrisi ve Asimetrisinde Cinsiyet ve Aktiviteye Özgü Farklılıklar

Aysun Güler Kanter(Kilis 7 Aralık Üniversitesi)0009-0008-0033-6053
Yunus Gür(KİLİS 7 ARALIK ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0001-5594-7478
Pages
1–12
Publication Date
2026-07-04
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

These findings indicate that hand morphology differs according to sex and physical activity status.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:Anthropometric characteristics influence sports performance, and sport-specific demands may lead to morphological differences in the upper extremities.
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Key Findings & Data:A total of 320 participants aged 18–25 years were included: 160 professional volleyball players (80 females, 80 males) and 160 sedentary university students (80 females, 80 males).
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Conclusion & Impact:These findings indicate that hand morphology differs according to sex and physical activity status.
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Antropometri · El Morfolojisi · El Asimetrisi

Abstract

Anthropometric characteristics influence sports performance, and sport-specific demands may lead to morphological differences in the upper extremities. Volleyball requires high levels of hand–eye coordination and technical skill, potentially affecting hand structure. This study examined sex- and activity-specific differences in hand anthropometry and asymmetry between volleyball players and sedentary young adults. A total of 320 participants aged 18–25 years were included: 160 professional volleyball players (80 females, 80 males) and 160 sedentary university students (80 females, 80 males). Hand length, hand width, palm length, third finger length, shape index, finger index, and hand surface area were measured from standardized hand images using ImageJ software. Female volleyball players exhibited significantly larger right-hand dimensions than sedentary females (e.g., hand length: 17.97 ± 1.78 cm vs. 16.56 ± 1.16 cm; p < 0.001). In contrast, male volleyball players showed smaller right-hand measurements compared with sedentary males (e.g., hand length: 18.63 ± 1.92 cm vs. 19.46 ± 2.43 cm; p = 0.018). Distinct right–left asymmetry patterns were observed across groups, with right-hand dominance in males and greater left-hand dimensions in sedentary females. These findings indicate that hand morphology differs according to sex and physical activity status. The results highlight the potential relevance of hand anthropometry for performance profiling and talent identification in volleyball.

Özet

Antropometrik özellikler sportif performansı etkilemekte olup, spora özgü talepler üst ekstremitelerde morfolojik farklılıklara yol açabilmektedir. Voleybol, yüksek düzeyde el–göz koordinasyonu ve teknik beceri gerektiren bir spor olup, el yapısını potansiyel olarak etkileyebilir. Bu çalışmada, voleybolcular ile sedanter genç yetişkinler arasında el antropometrisi ve asimetrisinde cinsiyet ve aktiviteye özgü farklılıklar incelenmiştir. Çalışmaya 18–25 yaşları arasında toplam 320 katılımcı dâhil edilmiştir: 160 profesyonel voleybolcu (80 kadın, 80 erkek) ve 160 sedanter üniversite öğrencisi (80 kadın, 80 erkek). El uzunluğu, el genişliği, avuç içi uzunluğu, üçüncü parmak uzunluğu, şekil indeksi, parmak indeksi ve el yüzey alanı, ImageJ yazılımı kullanılarak standartlaştırılmış el görüntülerinden ölçülmüştür. Kadın voleybolcuların sağ el ölçümleri sedanter kadınlara göre anlamlı düzeyde daha büyük bulunmuştur (örneğin, el uzunluğu: 17.97 ± 1.78 cm’ye karşı 16.56 ± 1.16 cm; p < 0.001). Buna karşılık, erkek voleybolcuların sağ el ölçümleri sedanter erkeklere göre daha küçük bulunmuştur (örneğin, el uzunluğu: 18.63 ± 1.92 cm’ye karşı 19.46 ± 2.43 cm; p = 0.018). Gruplar arasında belirgin sağ–sol asimetri örüntüleri gözlenmiş; erkeklerde sağ el baskınlığı, sedanter kadınlarda ise sol el ölçümlerinin daha büyük olduğu belirlenmiştir. Bu bulgular, el morfolojisinin cinsiyet ve fiziksel aktivite durumuna göre farklılık gösterdiğini ortaya koymaktadır. Sonuçlar, el antropometrisinin voleybolda performans profillemesi ve yetenek seçimi açısından potansiyel önemini vurgulamaktadır.

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Cite This Article

Kanter, A. G., Gür, Y. (2026). Sex- and Activity-Specific Differences in Hand Anthropometry and Asymmetry in Volleyball Players and Sedentary Young Adults. Akdeniz Spor Bilimleri Dergisi, Cilt: 9 Sayı: 1, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.38021/asbid.1851678

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