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

  • 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.

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Author:Thorben HülsdünkerORCiDGND, David FriebeORCiD, Florian GiescheORCiD, Lutz VogtGND, Florian PfabGND, Christian Haser, Winfried BanzerGND
URN:urn:nbn:de:hebis:30:3-789724
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesf.2023.04.003
ISSN:1728-869X
Parent Title (English):Journal of exercise science & fitness
Publisher:Elsevier
Place of publication:Singapore [u.a.]
Document Type:Article
Language:English
Date of Publication (online):2023/05/03
Date of first Publication:2023/04/27
Publishing Institution:Universitätsbibliothek Johann Christian Senckenberg
Release Date:2024/04/19
Tag:Athlete; Motor-cognitive; Sport; Testing; Training
Volume:21
Issue:3
Page Number:8
First Page:260
Last Page:267
HeBIS-PPN:519279271
Institutes:Medizin
Psychologie und Sportwissenschaften / Sportwissenschaften
Dewey Decimal Classification:6 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften / 61 Medizin und Gesundheit / 610 Medizin und Gesundheit
Sammlungen:Universitätspublikationen
Licence (German):License LogoCreative Commons - CC BY-NC-ND - Namensnennung - Nicht kommerziell - Keine Bearbeitungen 4.0 International