Investigating the relationship between dynamic balance, agility, and walking speed in female basketball players compared with non-active females

Physical activity levels among young Saudi female college students are suboptimal, which may be associated with key aspects of physical performance, including walking speed, agility, and dynamic balance. Although interest in female sports is increasing, limited research has examined associations among these parameters in Saudi females. This study examined the relationships among physical activity, walking speed, agility, and dynamic balance in female basketball players and non-active participants. A cross-sectional study involved 38 healthy females aged 20 to 26 years: 18 basketball players and 20 non-active participants. Participants completed standardized assessments of physical activity level, normal and fast walking speed using the 10-Meter Walk Test (10MWT), agility using the Modified Agility T-Test (MAT), and dynamic balance using the Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT). Basketball players demonstrated significantly shorter MAT times and greater reach in selected posterior and posteromedial SEBT directions compared with non-active participants; overall SEBT performance did not differ significantly between groups. Normal 10MWT walking speed was significantly higher in non-active participants than in basketball players (2.17 ± 0.74 vs 1.65 ± 0.95 m/s, P = .01). Fast walking speed was slightly higher in basketball players (1.71 ± 0.62 vs 1.62 ± 0.68 m/s), but the between-group difference was not statistically significant (P = .53). Higher physical activity levels were strongly associated with shorter MAT times (r = -0.84, P < .01) and were also associated with greater reach in selected posterior and posteromedial SEBT directions. Normal walking speed was significantly associated with MAT performance (R = 0.55, P < .01) and with selected SEBT measures. Physical activity level was associated with agility, normal walking speed, and selected directional balance measures in this sample. Basketball players demonstrated better agility and greater reach in selected posterior and posteromedial SEBT directions. Normal walking speed was higher in non-active participants, whereas fast walking speed did not differ significantly between groups.