In sports science, accurate tracking of athletes’ movement patterns is essential for performance analysis and injury prevention. Changes of direction (COD), frequently executed during basketball games at cutting angles of around 135° (internal angle of 45°), are essential for agility and high-level performance. Moreover, mastering effective COD mechanics is associated with a lower risk of injuries and enhanced long-term athletic success. However, manual segmentation of data from wearable sensors is labor-intensive and time-consuming, often creating bottlenecks for sports practitioners. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of an automated algorithm for detecting COD movements in basketball and to compare its performance with manual detection methods. Data were collected from 62 basketball players, each completing two tests (V-cut test and a modified V-cut test), totaling 248 trials. The system utilizes kinematic data from an Xsens full-body kit to analyze key variables that characterize direction changes. The proposed method detects COD events with a median error of one frame and an interquartile range of two frames. The system demonstrated nearly 80% accuracy in COD detection, as validated against manual video analysis. These findings indicate that automated COD detection can significantly reduce segmentation time for practitioners while providing actionable, data-driven insights to enhance kinematic assessment during sport-specific activities.

Purpose: Change of direction while dribbling appears to be of interest for on-court performance in basketball. The study aim was to assess the validity and reliability of the V-cut dribbling test (VcutBk) in young basketball players. Methods: Ninety-two young basketball players from 8 to 21 years old (74% male) were classified in relation to peak height velocity (PHV) offset. To examine validity and test–retest reliability, VcutBk was performed in 2 identical sessions separated by 1 week. Participants also performed the V-cut test and linear sprint test with and without dribbling to analyze correlations between tests in different somatic maturity stages. Results: The relationships of the VcutBk with the other tests and skill-time-related deficits were interpreted from large (r > .51) to very large (r > .71). The comparisons between pre-PHV and post-PHV groups of basketball players showed significant and large effect in the VcutBk (d = 2.04; mean difference = 2.59; 95% CI, 1.86 to 3.32). Also, significant main effects when comparing PHV groups were reported in all skill-time-related deficits (P < .001, , moderate to large effect size). Test–retest reliability and signal-to-noise ratio analysis did not show substantial between-trials differences in VcutBk. Reliability scores showed high intraclass correlation coefficient (.95) and low coefficient of variation (0.23%). Conclusions: The VcutBk seems to be a valid and reliable test to assess change of direction while dribbling. VcutBk performance and skill-time-related deficits seem to be sensitive to somatic maturity. Basketball coaches should consider the VcutBk to assess young basketball players.

This study aimed (1) to explore the association between body composition [fat-to-muscle ratio (FMR), waist circumference (WC), and body mass index (BMI)] with motor competence (MC) and physical fitness (PFI) in 7-year-old children; (2) to ascertain whether FMR modifies the associations between MC and PF. A total of 164 children (7 yr) were included. Anthropometric (fat and muscle mass were calculated with TANITA), motor competence (CAMSA test) and physical fitness (1/2 mile run, handgrip strength, 10 × 5, standing long jump, and sit and reach tests) variables were collected. FMR, WC and BMI correlated negatively with MC (all between r ≤ −0.333 and −0.183 and p < 0.05) and PFI (all between r ≤ −0.410 and −0.246 and p < 0.05) in all children. However, the associations were stronger for FMR. In linear regressions analyses, only FMR was independently and negatively associated with MC and PFI, explaining 12.6% and 20.9% of its variance, respectively. Positive correlations between PFI and MC existed. Also, the association was not modified by FMR levels, since in both groups (above and below FMR median), the associations were maintained (p < 0.0001). However, the t-test showed that children with higher FMRs have lower levels of MC (p = 0.005) and PFI (p < 0.0001). FMR may be the best body composition parameter related to MC and PFI. Furthermore, the association between MC and PFI is not modulated by FMR but children with higher FMRs show lower levels of MC and PFI.

Introduction: Postnatal development has the potential to contribute to lung function in adult life, although associations between health-related parameters and lung function remains unclear in childhood. The aim of the study is to evaluate the relationship between physical fitness and anthropometric parameters with lung function of healthy scholar-aged children. Method: A total of 418 children aged 7-8 years old participated in this study. The associations of fitness (handgrip strength, standing broad jump, and 800-m run) and anthropometric (waist circumference (WC) and body mass index (BMI)) parameters with lung function (forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV )) were analysed using mixed-linear regression model. All measurements were performed using standard procedures for children. Results: Girls had significantly lower FVC values (p=0.006) and physical fitness (p<0.019) compared to boys. On mixed-linear regression analyses, handgrip strength (p<0.001) and WC (p<0.001) were independently associated with FVC, explaining together 26.6 % of its variance while handgrip strength (p=0.001), WC (p<0.001) and BMI (p<0.001), were independently associated with FEV , accounting together for 21.0 % of its variance in 7-year healthy children. Conclusions: Handgrip strength and anthropometric parameters were associated with lung function in healthy children highlighting the influence of torso development in lung function. Our results corroborate the need to promote physical fitness during childhood, especially among girls, in order to enhance their pulmonary function and protect from lung complications in later life.

Purpose: Associations between health-related parameters and lung function remain unclear in childhood. The study aims to evaluate the relationship between physical fitness and anthropometric parameters with the lung function of healthy scholar-aged children. Method: A total of 418 children aged 7 years old participated in this study. The associations of physical fitness (handgrip strength, standing broad jump, and 800-m run) and anthropometric (waist circumference and body mass index) parameters with lung function (forced vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in 1 s) were analyzed using a mixed-linear regression model. Results: Girls had significantly lower forced vital capacity values (P = .006) and physical fitness (P < .030) compared to boys. On mixed-linear regression analyses, waist circumference (P = .003) was independently associated with forced vital capacity, explaining 34.6% of its variance, while handgrip strength (P = .042) and waist circumference (P = .010) were independently associated with forced expiratory volume in 1 second, accounting together for 26.5% of its variance in 7-year-old healthy children. Conclusions: Handgrip strength and waist circumference were associated with lung function in healthy children highlighting the influence of upper body muscular strength and trunk dimension on lung function. Our results corroborate the need to promote physical fitness during childhood to protect against lung complications in later on in life.

Introduction: Postnatal development has the potential to contribute to lung function in adult life, although associations between health-related parameters and lung function remains unclear in childhood. The aim of the study is to evaluate the relationship between physical fitness and anthropometric parameters with lung function of healthy scholar-aged children. Method : A total of 418 children aged 7-8 years old participated in this study. The associations of fitness (handgrip strength, standing broad jump, and 800-m run) and anthropometric (waist circumference (WC) and body mass index (BMI)) parameters with lung function (forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV ₁ )) were analysed using mixed-linear regression model. All measurements were performed using standard procedures for children. Results: Girls had significantly lower FVC values (p=0.006) and physical fitness (p<0.019) compared to boys. On mixed-linear regression analyses, handgrip strength (p<0.001) and WC (p<0.001) were independently associated with FVC, explaining together 26.6 % of its variance while handgrip strength (p=0.001), WC (p<0.001) and BMI (p<0.001), were independently associated with FEV ₁ , accounting together for 21.0 % of its variance in 7-year healthy children. Conclusions : Handgrip strength and anthropometric parameters were associated with lung function in healthy children highlighting the influence of torso development in lung function. Our results corroborate the need to promote physical fitness during childhood, especially among girls, in order to enhance their pulmonary function and protect from lung complications in later life.