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Introduction: The preferred transition speed (PTS) is an important parameter in gait research to distinguish the walking or running state. Most of the research on PTS, however, has been conducted with people of European and American ethnicities. Relatedly, previous studies exploring body measures as possible determinants of PTS were biased toward longitudinal body dimensions, and there have been few studies investigating the correlation between PTS and longitudinal and transverse parameters. Along those lines, there has been only limited research on PTS in Taiwan. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to use regression equations to determine the relationship between longitudinal and transverse anthropometric parameters and PTS in Taiwanese males. Methods: Longitudinal and transverse anthropometric parameters of the lower limb were measured in fifty-three Taiwanese males, and the walk-to-run and run-to-walk speed tests were performed to obtain the PTS of these subjects. The relationship between the PTS and the anthropometric variables was determined by using Pearson's product-moment correlations and stepwise multiple regression analysis. Results: Weak to small correlations between several body length and width variables and the PTS were found. Significant correlations (p < .05) between transverse body scaled to body height (pelvic width %) and the PTS were found (r = .275). The lower limb parameters were then subjected to stepwise multiple regression analysis. The results yielded a multivariate regression formula with PTS = .111 pelvic width (%) + 5.350 (R2 = .076). Conclusion: With the inherent differences in longitudinal body parameters (e.g., height, leg length (%), calf length (%)) between Taiwanese and European-American males, the results of the study suggest that it is not possible to estimate the PTS by referring to the regression results of foreign limb parameters. Therefore, the longitudinal and transverse anthropometric parameters of the lower limbs in Taiwanese males cannot be used as predictors of the PTS, suggesting that future studies on the relevance of other parameters, such as kinetics or kinematics, for the PTS should be conducted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: During a badminton game, athletes need to perform high-intensity tasks such as jumping, lunging, changing direction quickly, and hitting the ball. The tactics are highly different between singles and doubles games. Understanding the difference in match load between singles and doubles games could help in the design of proper training plans and recovery strategies. The aims of this study were to quantify the work load of badminton players and to compare the differences in match load between singles and doubles players. Methods: Fifteen junior college men's badminton team players were recruited as experiment participants. Each player wore two Capture.U inertial sensors (wrist and lower back), a Polar H10 heart rate sensor (chest), and a Global T1 local positioning system sensor (shoulder). Each participant played one singles and one doubles simulated match and then recorded their work load during the match. The difference in singles and doubles match loads was analyzed using the dependent sample t-test. Results: Banister's TRIMP, average heart rate, maximal heart rate, distance covered, and average speed of singles players were higher than those of doubles players. However, sRPE and player load were not significantly different. Singles players also played a higher number of shots and had a greater stroke frequency and sum of acceleration peaks. The number of shots, stroke frequency, and sum of acceleration peaks were higher in doubles combinations than in singles. Conclusion: The higher heart rate and average speed of singles players and the greater distance they covered indicate that singles matches had a higher physical load. In doubles matches, the number of shots was higher and stroke frequency and sum of acceleration peaks were greater, suggesting that they had a higher hitting load. In conclusion, singles matches impose higher physical demands, whereas doubles matches require focus on technical and tactical skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]