Monitoring Morphological and Muscular Asymmetries in Elite Basketball: Field and Lab Measures of Neuromuscular Health

Background and Objectives: Asymmetries in body composition and movement patterns are common in professional basketball due to the sport’s repetitive and unilateral demands. While both structural and functional asymmetries have been independently studied, little is known about their interaction under real training conditions. The aim of this study was to compare structural asymmetries, obtained from bioelectrical impedance analysis, with functional asymmetries, measured through inertial devices in professional basketball players. Methods: Twenty-five male professional basketball players from two Spanish teams were monitored over a two-month period. Structural asymmetries were assessed via the TANITA MC-780MA multi-frequency analyzer, while functional asymmetries were quantified using WIMU Pro™ inertial units during 43 training sessions. Descriptive, correlational, and cluster analyses were performed, followed by linear mixed-effects models adjusted for individual random effects, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Results: Descriptive results revealed low overall fat mass and no relevant group-level asymmetries in muscle mass or functional variables, although fat mass asymmetry showed greater variability across players. Correlation analyses indicated weak and non-significant relationships between structural and functional asymmetries. Cluster analysis grouped muscle mass and functional asymmetries together, while fat mass asymmetry formed a distinct cluster. Linear mixed-effects models confirmed significant differences for muscle mass asymmetry and demonstrated high inter-individual variability. Conclusions: Structural and functional asymmetries behave independently, with muscle mass asymmetry showing greater variability and functional relevance. These findings highlight the need for individualized monitoring approaches integrating morphological and functional assessments to optimize performance and reduce injury risk in elite basketball players.