Sports Value and Practical Dilemmas of Agility and Change-of-Direction in Badminton-specific Competition

Focusing on agility and change-of-direction in badminton, this review examines the competitive value, biomechanical characteristics and training challenges involved, with the

Aim: of offering practical references for training optimization. The analysis draws on existing literature across three areas: kinematic analysis, training intervention and injury mechanisms. Change-of-direction ability showed strong correlations with coordination (r = 0.91), movement speed (r = 0.86), reaction ability (r = 0.81) and lower limb explosive power (r = 0.79). In men's singles, an average rally contained 8.9 ± 2.1 shots, with 77.0 ± 7.5 total points played per match. Side-step footwork incurred a net energy cost of 19.59 J·kg⁻¹·m⁻¹, compared with 20.38 J·kg⁻¹·m⁻¹ for running footwork. Fatigue led to reduced knee flexion angles and greater valgus moments, raising the likelihood of anterior cruciate ligament injury. Training practice currently struggles with several issues, including a lack of variety in

Methods: , insufficient individualization, and limited use of technological tools. These

Findings: point to the need for a multi-factor training approach, better sport-specific assessment tools, and greater attention to load management and injury prevention.