Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology最新文献

{"title":"Effects of Supervised Strength Training on Physical Fitness in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.","authors":"José M Moreno-Torres, Juan Alfonso García-Roca, Oriol Abellan-Aynes, Alvaro Diaz-Aroca","doi":"10.3390/jfmk10020162","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfmk10020162","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Objective:</b> Strength training has gained recognition as an effective method to enhance physical fitness in children and adolescents. Its benefits include improvements in muscular strength, aerobic capacity (VO₂max), and motor performance. However, the diversity in training protocols and participant characteristics across studies necessitates a comprehensive synthesis of the evidence. The aim of this paper was to analyse the influence of a strength training programme in young people aged 6 to 16 years on different aspects of physical fitness. <b>Methods:</b> A search was carried out in the EBSCO, Web of Sciences, and Scopus databases. A total of 634 articles were reviewed, and 22 were finally included in the meta-analysis of articles published between 2013 and 2023 in English or Spanish. Twenty-two studies met the inclusion criteria and were assessed using the AXIS and PEDro tools. Standardised mean differences (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. The variables that were most frequently repeated as criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of strength training were the following: (1) strength of the lower/upper body muscles; (2) VO₂max; (3) sprint performance. <b>Results:</b> Strength training interventions produced statistically significant improvements in all analysed variables. Most effective programmes lasted between 6 and 12 weeks, with 2-3 sessions per week. VO₂max showed the greatest improvement, followed by upper and lower limb strength, and sprint performance. Heterogeneity ranged from low to moderate. <b>Conclusions:</b> Supervised strength training programmes can significantly enhance physical fitness in school-aged children and adolescents. While the included studies varied in design and duration, measurable improvements were commonly observed in interventions lasting at least 6-8 weeks. Future research should explore age- and maturity-related responses through subgroup analyses. Limitations include the exclusion of studies published after 2023 and the wide age range of participants without biological stratification.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":"10 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12101325/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144127510","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"May Patients with Chronic Stroke Benefit from Robotic Gait Training with an End-Effector? A Case-Control Study.","authors":"Mirjam Bonanno, Paolo De Pasquale, Antonino Lombardo Facciale, Biagio Dauccio, Rosaria De Luca, Angelo Quartarone, Rocco Salvatore Calabrò","doi":"10.3390/jfmk10020161","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfmk10020161","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background</b>: Gait and balance alterations in post-stroke patients are one of the most disabling symptoms that can persist in chronic stages of the disease. In this context, rehabilitation has the fundamental role of promoting functional recovery, mitigating gait and balance deficits, and preventing falling risk. Robotic end-effector devices, like the G-EO system (e.g., G-EO system, Reha Technology, Olten, Switzerland), can be a useful device to promote gait recovery in patients with chronic stroke. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> Twelve chronic stroke patients were enrolled and evaluated at baseline (T0) and at post-treatment (T1). These patients received forty sessions of robotic gait training (RGT) with the G-EO system (experimental group, EG), for eight weeks consecutively, in addition to standard rehabilitation therapy. The data of these subjects were compared with those coming from a sample of twelve individuals (control group, CG) matched for clinical and demographic features who underwent the same amount of conventional gait training (CGT), in addition to standard rehabilitation therapy. <b>Results:</b> All patients completed the trial, and none reported any side effects either during or following the training. The EG showed significant improvements in balance (<i>p</i> = 0.012) and gait (<i>p</i> = 0.004) functions measured with the Tinetti Scale (TS) after RGT. Both groups (EG and CG) showed significant improvement in functional independence (FIM, <i>p</i> < 0.001). The Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Lower Extremity (FMA-LE) showed significant improvements in motor function (<i>p</i> = 0.001, <i>p</i> = 0.031) and passive range of motion (<i>p</i> = 0.031) in EG. In EG, gait and balance improvements were influenced by session, age, gender, time since injury (TSI), cadence, and velocity (<i>p</i> < 0.05), while CG showed fewer significant effects, mainly for age, TSI, and session. EG showed significantly greater improvements than CG in balance (<i>p</i> = 0.003) and gait (<i>p</i> = 0.05) based on the TS. <b>Conclusions:</b> RGT with end-effectors, like the G-EO system, can be a valuable complementary treatment in neurorehabilitation, even for chronic stroke patients. Our findings suggest that RGT may improve gait, balance, and lower limb motor functions, enhancing motor control and coordination.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":"10 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12101270/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144127765","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessing the Validity and Reliability of the PNOE¯ for Measuring Cardiometabolic Outcomes During Walking Exercise.","authors":"Manny M Y Kwok, Shamay S M Ng, Jonathan Myers, Billy C L So","doi":"10.3390/jfmk10020159","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfmk10020159","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background:</b> The accuracy of measurement of cardiometabolic outcomes in terms of gaseous exchange and energy expenditure of individuals is crucial. The objective of this study was to compare the validity and reliability of the PNOE¯ in measuring cardiometabolic outcomes from the respiratory gaseous exchange of healthy individuals during treadmill walking exercise. <b>Methods:</b> A total of 21 healthy subjects (15 male and 6 female) aged 22.76 ± 3.85 years took part in this study. Oxygen uptake (VO₂), carbon dioxide production (VCO₂), respiratory exchange ratio (RER), metabolic equivalents (METs), tidal volume (VT), and energy expenditure (EE) were measured using the PNOE¯ and COSMED K5 portable systems during a twenty-eight-minute, four-stage incremental protocol, where speed increased from 1.7 mph to 4.2 mph with a 2% incline on a treadmill. Test-retest reliability was tested on separate days with trail repetition. Validity was evaluated by Bland-Altman plots, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and mean percentage difference. <b>Results:</b> ICCs showed that VCO₂ was in the good range (0.75-0.90). The ICC of the RER from stages 1 to 3 of the incremental protocol and the VT from stages 2 to 4 of the incremental protocol showed good to excellent reliability. No clear trend was seen for VO₂, VCO₂, and EE datapoints with variations in speed. Pearson's correlation coefficients were moderately high (r = 0.60-0.79) between VO₂, VCO₂, RER, METs, VT, and EE measured by the PNOE¯ and K5 systems. All subjects, except for a few cases in VT, were within the upper and lower 95% confidence intervals of the acceptable range of the Bland-Altman plots. <b>Conclusions:</b> The PNOE¯ system is a valid and reliable measure of cardiometabolic outcomes and is comparable to the COSMED K5 system.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":"10 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12101258/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144127802","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Intra-Session Reliability and Predictive Value of Maximum Voluntary Isometric Contraction for Estimating One-Repetition Maximum in Older Women: A Randomised Split-Sample Study.","authors":"José Aldo Hernández-Murúa, Ena Monserrat Romero-Pérez, Jorge Luis Guajardo-Cruztitla, Blas Sinahí Madrigal Olivares, Ángel Gallego-Selles, Diego González-Martín, Francisca Reyes-Merino, Nidia Sánchez-García, José Antonio de Paz","doi":"10.3390/jfmk10020160","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfmk10020160","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background:</b> Ageing is associated with a progressive decline in muscle strength, particularly in the lower limbs, which compromises functional independence. While both maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) and one-repetition maximum (1RM) are widely employed to assess muscle strength, the intra-session reliability and predictive capacity of MVIC for estimating 1RM in older women remain insufficiently explored. <b>Objectives:</b> This study aims to evaluate the intra-session reliability of MVIC in knee extensors, analyse its correlation with 1RM, and develop a predictive model for estimating 1RM from MVIC in older women. <b>Methods:</b> Using a randomised split-sample design, 82 women aged 60-69 years performed two MVIC trials and one 1RM test using a leg extension machine. Intra-session reliability was assessed by calculating the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), the standard error of measurement (SEM), and the minimal detectable change (MDC). Furthermore, a linear regression model was developed to predict 1RM based on MVIC. <b>Results:</b> MVIC demonstrated excellent intra-session reliability (ICC = 0.96, SEM = 4.3%, MDC = 11.9%), and a strong correlation between MVIC and 1RM was observed (R² = 0.618). Although the predictive equation 1RM = [(0.932 × MVIC) - 3.852] did not yield statistically significant differences between the estimated and actual 1RM values (<i>p</i> = 0.791), it exhibited a prediction error of 13.4%. <b>Conclusions</b>: MVIC is a highly reliable measure in older women and represents a practical tool for estimating 1RM. Nonetheless, its predictive accuracy is limited, highlighting the need for further studies to refine predictive models by incorporating additional variables.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":"10 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12101328/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144127747","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Velocity-Based Curve Differential Repeated Sprinting Training: A Novel Approach to Shape Physical Performance in Young Basketball Players.","authors":"Jorge Arede, Jack Wells, Mark Williams, Franc Garcia, Wolfgang Schöllhorn","doi":"10.3390/jfmk10020157","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfmk10020157","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background:</b> Basketball necessitates high-intensity, intermittent efforts with multidirectional and unpredictable movements, requiring training strategies that enhance players' physical capacity to meet these demands efficiently. This study aimed to examine the effects of a velocity-based curve differential sprinting training on the overall performance of young male basketball players. <b>Methods:</b> A total of 24 participants were tested for single- and double-legged counter-movement jump (CMJ) height, 10 m linear sprint time, and agility performance in a pre-post-retention test design. The 12-week intervention consisted of two weekly sessions with differential sprint training in addition to normal basketball training. Sessions consisted of two sets of ten 20 m sprints whereby participants were instructed to perform additional fluctuations in joints velocity for each repetition. <b>Results:</b> Results show strong evidence for H₁ (significant effect) for the experimental group in CMJ height (right leg) (BF₁₀ = 19.24) between pre-, post-, and retention test values (BF₁₀ = 10.24-17.85). For the remaining variables, no significant differences were observed. In contrast, the control group showed no significant effects including sprinting variables, indicating limited training effects. <b>Conclusions:</b> In conclusion, this research found that the 12-week differential curve sprinting training improved physical performance in the CMJ for the experimental group. Therefore, adding velocity-based random fluctuations during curve sprint training could be an effective training strategy for enhancing jumping performance in youth basketball players, which should encourage practitioners to implement different variations of the differential training approach.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":"10 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12101404/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144127508","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Investigating Countermovement and Horizontal Jump Asymmetry in Female Football Players: Differences Across Age Categories.","authors":"Elena Mainer-Pardos, Rafael Albalad-Aiguabella, Víctor Emilio Villavicencio Álvarez, Santiago Calero-Morales, Demetrio Lozano, Alberto Roso-Moliner","doi":"10.3390/jfmk10020158","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfmk10020158","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background</b>: Lower limb asymmetry is a critical factor influencing performance and injury risk in football players. Despite the increasing popularity of women's football, limited research has examined how asymmetry varies across different age categories. This study aimed to investigate countermovement jump (CMJ) and horizontal jump (HJ) asymmetry in female football players across four age categories (U14, U16, U18, and +18). <b>Methods</b>: Seventy-six female football players from the same club participated in the study. Players performed unilateral CMJ and HJ tests to assess inter-limb asymmetry. A one-way ANOVA and Chi-square tests were conducted to examine age-related differences in asymmetry levels. <b>Results</b>: CMJ asymmetry significantly varied across age groups (<i>p</i> < 0.001), with the highest asymmetry observed in U14 and the lowest in +18. In contrast, HJ asymmetry remained consistently low across all age groups (<i>p</i> = 0.113). No significant correlation was found between CMJ and HJ asymmetry. Additionally, asymmetry levels in CMJ were significantly associated with age (<i>p</i> = 0.003), whereas no such association was observed for HJ. <b>Conclusions</b>: CMJ asymmetry is more prevalent in younger female football players and tends to decrease with age, suggesting that neuromuscular development plays a role in reducing asymmetry over time. These findings highlight the importance of monitoring asymmetry levels across different age groups to optimize training interventions and injury prevention strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":"10 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12101151/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144127759","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Relationships Between Effort, Rate of Perceived Exertion, and Readiness During a Warm-Up for High-Speed Sprinting.","authors":"Roland van den Tillaar, Nick Ball, Per Øyvind Torvik","doi":"10.3390/jfmk10020155","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfmk10020155","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Objectives</b>: The aim of this study was to investigate how a sprint warm-up with increasing prescribed effort relates to actual effort and how this influences RPE and readiness for a maximal 50 m sprint performance. <b>Methods</b>: A total of 19 subjects (17 men and 2 women age: 43.8 ± 12.6 yrs., height: 1.78 ± 0.08 m, body mass: 78.7 ± 9.5, 100 m PB: 13.07 ± 1.0) undertook a short specific warm-up of 8 × 50 m runs with 60 s rest in between (10 min in total) where a dynamic exercise was performed. The first 50 m run was performed at a self-estimated effort of around 60% of estimated maximal sprint speed. Each subsequent 50 m repetition required a 5% increase in sprint speed until it reached 95% of maximal self-estimated intensity, followed by a maximal 50 m sprint performance. Every 50 m time was measured together with the rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and readiness to perform a maximal 50 m sprint. <b>Results</b>: The main findings were that actual percentage of effort was generally higher than prescribed efforts, especially in the initial test, while alignment improved in the retest, except at higher intensities (80-90%). Furthermore, both RPE and readiness had a significant positive correlation with the percentage of effort, though RPE was consistently lower, and readiness was slightly reduced at lower efforts in the retest. In addition, test-retest reliability indicated consistent sprint performance and perceptual measures across sessions. <b>Conclusions</b>: It was concluded that this short, structured warm-up is suitable for maximal sprint performance as shown by the readiness and RPE.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":"10 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12101144/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144127694","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Contribution of Tibialis Anterior in Sit-to-Stand Motion: Implications for Its Role in Shifting the Center of Pressure Backward.","authors":"Hiroki Hanawa, Taku Miyazawa, Keisuke Hirata, Keisuke Kubota, Tsutomu Fujino","doi":"10.3390/jfmk10020156","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfmk10020156","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background:</b> The role of tibialis anterior activity in sit-to-stand motion is unclear. We hypothesized that contraction of the tibialis anterior would slightly lift the forefoot and shift the center of pressure backward. <b>Objectives:</b> The objective of this study was to clarify this movement and its role in tibialis anterior activity. <b>Methods:</b> Ten healthy adults performed the sit-to-stand motion. Cross-correlation coefficients among tibialis anterior activity, shank inclination angle, and center of pressure were calculated. Whole-body joint moments were simulated when the center of pressure varied within the foot. The angle of the ground reaction force during seat-off was calculated. <b>Results:</b> The center of pressure moved backward in all trials for all participants. The mean lag time for peak cross-correlation coefficients between the tibialis anterior and shank tilt and between the tibialis anterior and center of pressure was 0.37 and 0.13 s, respectively. Simulating the center of pressure forward resulted in greater whole-body joint moments than those measured (mean 1.88 times). The ground reaction forces were nearly perpendicular to the floor. <b>Conclusions:</b> From the perspective of temporal synchrony, tibialis anterior activity significantly contributed to the backward shift of the center of pressure. The center of pressure shift minimized the force exerted by the entire body.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":"10 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12101179/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144127878","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Influence of Biological Maturation on the Career Trajectory of Football Players: Does It Predict Elite Success?","authors":"Saül Aixa-Requena, Albert Gil-Galve, Alejandro Legaz-Arrese, Vicenç Hernández-González, Joaquín Reverter-Masia","doi":"10.3390/jfmk10020153","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfmk10020153","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background:</b> Early-maturing players tend to have physical advantages during formative stages, but it remains unclear whether these advantages translate into long-term professional success. This study examines how biological maturation influences participation and career trajectories in youth football. <b>Methods:</b> Anthropometric and competitive data were collected from 47 players (13.53 ± 1.08 years) in a top-tier academy during the 2010-2011 season. The maturation status was assessed using the Tanner-Whitehouse II RUS method, and the career outcomes were tracked in 2024-2025. <b>Results:</b> Early-maturing players showed higher anthropometric values and greater participation. However, late maturers were more likely to reach professional football (<i>p</i> = 0.003), with all players competing in the top five European leagues belonging to the late-maturing group. <b>Conclusions:</b> Early maturation does not guarantee professional success. Strategies such as bio-banding and personalized training can reduce biases and support talent development, highlighting the need for a more holistic approach to player evaluation.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":"10 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12101215/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144127745","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Predictive Capacity of the 3-Meter Backward Walk Test for Falls in Older Adults: A Case-Control Analysis.","authors":"Luis Polo-Ferrero, Javier Torres-Alonso, María Carmen Sánchez-Sánchez, Ana Silvia Puente-González, Fausto J Barbero-Iglesias, Roberto Méndez-Sánchez","doi":"10.3390/jfmk10020154","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfmk10020154","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background</b>: The early detection of fall risk in older adults is crucial for prevention. This study assessed the 3-Meter Backward Walk Test (3m-BWT) as a predictor of falls. <b>Methods</b>: A retrospective observational case-control study was conducted with 483 community-dwelling participants (mean age 76.3 ± 6.5 years), including 101 individuals with a history of falls in the previous 12 months. A standardized battery of functional assessments was applied. <b>Results</b>: Significant differences were observed between fallers and non-fallers across all functional variables (<i>p</i> < 0.001), with fallers demonstrating slower performance on the 3m-BWT (6.8 ± 3.4 s vs. 5.1 ± 1.3 s). The 3m-BWT showed moderate correlations with Short Physical Performance Battery, 5-repetition Sit-to-Stand, gait speed, and 4-Square Step Test, and a moderate-to-strong correlation with Timed Up-and-Go (r = 0.632), even after adjusting for age, sex, and BMI. Although the 3m-BWT exhibited superior discriminative ability compared to other tests (AUC = 0.655), its predictive power in isolation remains limited. The optimal cut-off point was identified at 5.5 s (sensitivity: 59.5%; specificity: 68.6%), while a threshold of <3.5 s yielded high sensitivity (98%) but low specificity, supporting its use in fall risk screening. <b>Conclusions</b>: These findings support the integration of the 3m-BWT as a complementary tool within comprehensive geriatric assessments, particularly in contexts requiring high sensitivity. Given the multifactorial nature of falls, combining the 3m-BWT with other clinical evaluations and fall history is recommended to enhance risk stratification and inform preventive strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":"10 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12101408/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144127440","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}