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Critical evaluation of a badminton-specific endurance test.

TitleCritical evaluation of a badminton-specific endurance test.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2014
AuthorsFuchs M, Faude O, Wegmann M, Meyer T
JournalInt J Sports Physiol Perform
Volume9
Issue2
Pagination249-55
Date Published2014 Mar
ISSN1555-0265
KeywordsAdult, Biomechanical Phenomena, Exercise Test, Humans, Male, Motor Skills, Physical Endurance, Physical Fitness, Racquet Sports, Regression Analysis, Reproducibility of Results, Running, Task Performance and Analysis, Time Factors, Young Adult
Abstract

PURPOSE: To overcome the limitations of traditional 1-dimensional fitness tests in analyzing physiological properties of badminton players, a badminton-specific endurance test (BST) was created. This study aimed at analyzing the influence of various fitness dimensions on BST performance.

METHODS: 18 internationally competing male German badminton players (22.4 ± 3.2 y, 79.2 ± 7.7 kg, 1.84 ± 0.06 m, world-ranking position [WRP] 21-501) completed a straight-sprint test, a change-of-direction speed test, various jump tests (countermovement jump, drop jump, standing long jump), a multistage running test (MST), and the BST. During this on-court field test players have to respond to a computerized sign indicating direction and speed of badminton-specific movements by moving into the corresponding corners.

RESULTS: Significant correlations were found between performance in MST and BST (individual anaerobic threshold [IAT], r = .63, P = .005; maximum velocity [Vmax], r = .60, P = .009). A negative correlation (r = -.59, P = .014) was observed between IAT in BST and drop-jump contact time. No further associations between performance indices could be detected. Apart from a small portion explained by MST results (IAT, R2 = .40; Vmax, R2 = .36), the majority of BST performance cannot be explained by the determined physiological correlates. Moreover, it was impossible to predict the WRP of a player on the basis of BST results (r = -.15, P = .55).

CONCLUSIONS: Neither discipline-specific performance nor basic physiological properties were appropriately reflected by a BST in elite badminton players. This does not substantiate its validity for regular use as a testing tool. However, it may be useful for monitoring on-court training sessions.

DOI10.1123/ijspp.2012-0387
Alternate JournalInt J Sports Physiol Perform
PubMed ID23751868
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