Validity of the SKILLCOURT® technology for agility and cognitive performance assessment in healthy active adults

Thorben Hülsdünker; David Friebe; Florian Giesche; Lutz Vogt; Florian Pfab; Christian Haser; Winfried Banzer

doi:10.1016/j.jesf.2023.04.003

Validity of the SKILLCOURT® technology for agility and cognitive performance assessment in healthy active adults

J Exerc Sci Fit. 2023 Jul;21(3):260-267. doi: 10.1016/j.jesf.2023.04.003. Epub 2023 Apr 27.

Authors

Thorben Hülsdünker^{1

2}, David Friebe³, Florian Giesche³, Lutz Vogt⁴, Florian Pfab⁵, Christian Haser⁵, Winfried Banzer^{3

5}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Exercise and Sport Science, LUNEX International University of Health, Exercise and Sports, Differdange, Luxembourg.
² Luxembourg Health & Sport Sciences Research Institute (LHSSRI), Differdange, Luxembourg.
³ Division of Preventive and Sports Medicine, Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Goethe-University Frankfurt/Main, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany.
⁴ Department of Sports Medicine and Exercise Physiology, Goethe University Frankfurt/Main, Germany.
⁵ Medical Department Eintracht Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany.

Abstract

Background/objectives: Agility and cognitive abilities are typically assessed separately by different motor and cognitive tests. While many agility tests lack a reactive decision-making component, cognitive assessments are still mainly based on computer-based or paper-pencil tests with low ecological validity. This study is the first to validate the novel SKILLCOURT technology as an integrated assessment tool for agility and cognitive-motor performance.

Methods: Thirty-two healthy adults performed agility (Star Run), reactive agility (Random Star Run) and cognitive-motor (executive function test, 1-back decision making) performance assessments on the SKILLCOURT. Cognitive-motor tests included lower limb responses in a standing position to increase the ecological validity when compared to computer-based tests. Test results were compared to established motor and agility tests (countermovement jump, 10 m linear sprint, T-agility tests) as well as computer-based cognitive assessments (choice-reaction, Go-NoGo, task switching, memory span). Correlation and multiple regression analyses quantified the relation between SKILLCOURT performance and motor and cognitive outcomes.

Results: Star Run and Random Star Run tests were best predicted by linear sprint (r = 0.68, p < 0.001) and T-agility performance (r = 0.77, p < 0.001), respectively. The executive function test performance was well explained by computer-based assessments on choice reaction speed and cognitive flexibility (r = 0.64, p < 0.001). The 1-back test on the SKILLCOURT revealed moderate but significant correlations with the computer-based assessments (r = 0.47, p = 0.007).

Conclusion: The results support the validity of the SKILLCOURT technology for agility and cognitive assessments in more ecologically valid cognitive-motor tasks. This technology provides a promising alternative to existing performance assessment tools.

Keywords: Athlete; Motor-cognitive; Sport; Testing; Training.