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e‑ISSN 2148-905X Open Access · CC BY 4.0
Vol. 13 · Issue 3 · 2026 Sep 15, 2026 Research Article

Comparison of Scapular Stabilizer Muscle Thickness in Badminton Athletes: An Analysis of the Dominant and Non-Dominant Sides

UY
Umut Yilmaz Corresponding Hakkari University, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Hakkari, Türkiye umutylmz030@gmail.com Turkey
AA
Alaaddin Ates Hakkari State Hospital, Hakkari, Türkiye Turkey
MO
Murat Ozan Atatürk University, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Erzurum, Türkiye Turkey
MS
Mustafa Nebi Simsek Hakkari University, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Hakkari, Türkiye Turkey
UK
Umut Kazak Hakkari University, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Hakkari, Türkiye Turkey
Pages404-419 PublishedSep 15, 2026 LicenseOpen Access
PDF (Türkçe)
VOL 13 · ISS 3 · 2026 Sportive Perspective: Journal of Sports and Educational Sciences View issue

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the resting muscle thickness of the upper, middle, and lower trapezius and serratus anterior using ultrasonography in active badminton athletes under 18 years of age and to determine differences between the dominant and non-dominant sides. Thirty-five active badminton athletes were included in this cross-sectional, paired comparative study. Muscle thickness was measured bilaterally at rest using B-mode ultrasonography; three images were obtained for each muscle and side, and the mean of the measurements was used as the analytical value. The distribution of paired differences was assessed using the Shapiro-Wilk test and Q-Q plots. Because the assumption of normality was not met in most comparisons, two-sided Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were applied to all four muscles, Holm correction was used for multiple comparisons, and effect sizes were calculated using the formula r=|Z|/√N. Median muscle thickness values for the dominant and non-dominant sides were .80 and .72 cm for the upper trapezius, .63 and .57 cm for the middle trapezius, .42 and .38 cm for the lower trapezius, and .84 and .73 cm for the serratus anterior, respectively. Muscle thickness was significantly greater on the dominant side for all four muscles (all holm-adjusted p<.001), with large effect sizes (r=.79-.87). The findings indicate a dominant-side morphological profile associated with unilateral racket use in young badminton athletes; however, due to the cross-sectional design, these differences should not be interpreted as evidence of training-induced hypertrophy, superior performance, or injury risk.

Keywords

#Badminton #muscle thickness #scapular stabilizers #ultrasonography

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