Are Change-of-Direction Speed and Reactive Agility Independent Skills Even When Using the Same Movement Pattern?

J Strength Cond Res. 2018 Jul;32(7):1929-1936. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000002553.

Abstract

Čoh, M, Vodičar, J, Žvan, M, Šimenko, J, Stodolka, J, Rauter, S, and Maćkala, K. Are change-of-direction speed and reactive agility independent skills even when using the same movement pattern? J Strength Cond Res 32(7): 1929-1936, 2018-The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether there are differences between the 2 approaches to quantifying agility (preplanned vs. unplanned response) when reacting to a stimulus in an identical spatial scenarios. The study involved 45 male and 31 female trained athletes (age 21.2 ± 1.78 and 20.6 ± 1.27 years, body height 181.6 ± 8.31 and 167.7 ± 5.03 cm, and body mass 78.9 ± 11.33 and 63.3 ± 8.65 kg, respectively). A light-based reactive training system was used to measure the time to completion in a task that assessed agility by change-of-direction speed (CODS) in a preplanned condition and reactive agility (RA) in an unplanned condition across 4 spatial configurations. Sprint performance in a 30-m sprint and lower limb reactive power in a 10-m single leg jump test was also measured. Significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) were found between men and women in all tests and between performance in the CODS and RA condition for each spatial configuration. Significant correlations were observed between 30-m starting sprint speed and CODS and RA performance measured in a semicircle (r = 0.62, r = 0.60) and lateral (r = 0.54, r = 0.58) configuration in male athletes. The present findings suggest that CODS and RA are 2 different and independent skill domains that define agility. These qualities should be diagnosed by discrete assessments and enhanced by different training methodologies.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Athletes
  • Athletic Performance / physiology*
  • Exercise Test / methods*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lower Extremity / physiology
  • Male
  • Motor Skills / physiology*
  • Running / physiology*
  • Spatial Navigation / physiology*
  • Young Adult