Biomechanical Determinants of the Modified and Traditional 505 Change of Direction Speed Test

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the whole-body biomechanical determinants of 180° change of direction (COD) performance. 61 male athletes (age: 20.7 ± 3.8 years, height: 1.77 ± 0.06 m, mass: 74.7 ± 10.0 kg) from multiple sports (soccer, rugby, and cricket) completed 6 trials of the modified and traditional 505 on their right leg, whereby 3D motion and ground reaction force data were collected during the COD. Pearson's and Spearman's correlations were used to explore the relationships between biomechanical variables and COD completion time. Independent T-tests and Hedges' g effect sizes were conducted between faster (top 20) and slower (bottom 20) performers to explore differences in biomechanical variables. Key kinetic and kinematic differences were demonstrated between faster and slower performers with statistically significant (p ≤ 0.05) and meaningful differences (g = 0.56-2.70) observed.Faster COD performers displayed greater peak and mean horizontal propulsive forces (PF) in shorter ground contact times, more horizontally orientated peak resultant braking and PFs, greater horizontal to vertical mean and peak braking and PF ratios, greater approach velocities, and displayed greater reductions in velocity over key instances of the COD. Additionally, faster performers displayed greater penultimate foot contact (PFC) hip, knee, and ankle dorsi-flexion angles, greater medial trunk lean, and greater internal pelvic and foot rotation. These aforementioned variables were also moderately to very largely (r or ρ = 0.317-0.795, p ≤ 0.013) associated with faster COD performance. Consequently, practitioners should focus not only on developing their athletes' ability to express force rapidly, but also develop their technical ability to apply force horizontally. Additionally, practitioners should consider coaching a 180° turning strategy which emphasizes high PFC triple flexion for center of mass lowering while P a g e | 2 also encouraging whole-body rotation to effectively align the body towards the exit for faster performance.

Decisive Factors for a Greater Performance in the Change of Direction and Its Angulation in Male Basketball Players

“…Likewise, in relation to linear velocity, the application of forces in the horizontal vector during sprint determined by the variable RF-10M showed high correlation with COD90°. In line with this, other studies [ 14 , 57 ] have found that those team sports’ athletes who performed better in the COD 505 test showed higher maximum horizontal propulsion forces and shorter ground contact times, as well as equally higher approaching velocities and greater speed reductions during cutting action. The key to better performance in COD actions is to minimize contact times in the field [ 14 ], and strength affords the ability to do so.…”

The Biomechanical Characterization of the Turning Phase during a 180° Change of Direction

“…Consequently, the opposite leg was ascertained to be the leg used to jump off when performing a right-handed running basketball layup and was identified as the stance leg (SL) [ 29 ]. Participants were divided into faster (top 33%, n = 13) and slower (bottom 33%, n = 13) performers based on their completion time [ 17 ] to test the hypothesis of the effect of COD performance. In addition, participants were divided into a high-playing-level group ( n = 17), engaged in basketball training and competitions at collegiate and national levels (>3 training sessions per week; >5 years of basketball experience), and a low-playing-level group ( n = 23), engaged in basketball as a recreational activity (<3 sessions per week), to test the hypothesis of the effect of playing level.…”

“…Focusing solely on the 180° COD speed tests, the kinetic and kinematic variables of the penultimate foot contact (PFC) and final foot contact (FFC) are commonly evaluated during traditional and modified 505 tests to investigate the differences between faster and slower performers [ 15 , 16 , 17 ]. Recently, new research investigated for the first time the antepenultimate foot contact, demonstrating its role in facilitating the deceleration phase during a traditional 505 test [ 18 ].…”

“…Furthermore, faster performers demonstrated greater vertical braking and propulsive forces compared with slower performers in the COD-only step analyzed during the traditional 505 test [ 16 ]. Moreover, faster performers showed greater peak and average horizontal propulsive forces for the FFC than slower performers during the traditional and modified 505 test [ 17 ]. Finally, associations have recently been demonstrated between greater antepenultimate foot contact peak vertical, horizontal, and resultant braking forces, mean vertical, horizontal, and resultant GRFs, and horizontal total impulses in comparison with faster performers during the traditional 505 test [ 18 ].…”

Reliability of Change of Direction and Agility Assessments in Youth Soccer Players

“…For example, Dos'Santos and colleagues [38] observed improvements in COD performance and movement quality following a six-week training intervention centred around improving technical components of COD. Considering the high level of physical and technical demands elicited during COD and agility actions [16,39], greater variance in test performance may be observed in younger, more immature athletes, particularly during periods of rapid growth and development.…”