Physical and physiological profiles of competitive fencers: A systematic review and meta-analysis of strength, power, endurance, agility and asymmetry

Background: Evidence on lower-limb strength, explosive power and bilateral asymmetry in competitive fencing is fragmented, and the relative impact of general neuromuscular capacity versus targeted training interventions remains unclear. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to provide a multidimensional, evidence-based synthesis of data on strength, power, and bilateral asymmetry of the lower limbs in professional fencers. Materials and methods: Following PRISMA 2020 (PROSPERO CRD420251041007), six databases were searched by 31 January 2025. Forty studies of fencers aged ≥ 12 years met the inclusion criteria. Three domain-specific random-effects meta-analyses (DerSimonian–Laird) were conducted: (1) integrated strength and power across all study designs; (2) strength- and power-focused intervention trials; and (3) asymmetry-targeted training. Results: The integration of observational and interventional data (nine studies) yielded a pooled effect size of d = 0.62 (95% CI 0.32–0.92). Seven intervention studies produced a larger pooled effect for strength/power programs (d = 1.08; 95% CI 0.74–1.42). Six asymmetry trials demonstrated d = 0.95 (95% CI 0.58–1.32). Between-study heterogeneity was moderate (I² = 45–60%), and GRADE assessments rated evidence quality as low to moderate. Conclusions: Both general neuromuscular capacity and targeted strength/power interventions strongly influence fencing performance, with interventions showing the greatest effects. Bilateral-symmetry training also yields substantial benefits. We recommend routine diagnostics, evidence-based strength and power programs, and symmetry-focused protocols. Future research should standardize assessment methods, adopt longitudinal designs and expand demographic representation.