Symmetry in Biomechanics

Dear Colleagues,

Asymmetry in sports and biomechanics is a complex and multifaceted concept, with its impact varying significantly based on the specific demands of each sport or activity. While symmetry can be beneficial in areas such as injury prevention and rehabilitation, helping in the even distribution of loads across the body, it may be less desirable in certain sports where asymmetry is advantageous or required. For instance, sports such as baseball, pitching, or tennis may benefit from asymmetrical development for specific skills. Moreover, due to natural biomechanical variations, striving for perfect symmetry might be unnatural or counterproductive for some athletes.

Future research should delve into the specific demands of different sports to understand where symmetry or asymmetry is beneficial. Long-term studies are crucial to assess the impact of symmetry and asymmetry over an athlete's career, particularly in terms of injury risk and longevity in the sport. Investigating individual variability, such as genetic predispositions and training history, is also essential. Other vital research areas include technological advancements for measuring symmetry in real-world sports settings and developing training methods that address necessary asymmetries or improve beneficial balance without causing imbalances. Exploring the psychological and cognitive aspects of how athletes perceive and respond to symmetry and asymmetry could offer deeper insights into training, performance, and rehabilitation. Therefore, symmetry's role in sports requires a nuanced and multifaceted approach in research and practical application.

Building upon the complex and multifaceted concept of asymmetry in sports and biomechanics, we cordially invite researchers to contribute to our upcoming Special Issue to address these unresolved and intriguing issues. This is an exceptional opportunity for scholars to explore the varying impacts of symmetry and asymmetry across different sports and activities and delve into the nuances of how these factors affect athletic performance, injury prevention, and rehabilitation. Contributions that examine the benefits and drawbacks of asymmetrical development in sports, analyze the effects of natural biomechanical variations, and assess the long-term impacts of symmetry and asymmetry on athletes' careers are particularly welcome. We also encourage submissions that focus on the advancement of measurement technologies in sports settings, the development of training methods that balance asymmetries, and studies that explore athletes' psychological and cognitive responses to symmetry and asymmetry. This Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive and insightful platform for discussing the multifaceted role of symmetry in sports, offering new perspectives, and contributing to advancing research and practice in this dynamic field.

Dr. Olivera Knezevic
Dr. Dimitrije Cabarkapa
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Symmetry is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• biomechanics
• sports asymmetry
• athletic performance
• injury prevention
• rehabilitation techniques