Multidimensional physical fitness profile in university students: cross-sectional study of speed, power, and flexibility
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55040/vq683235Keywords:
sprint performance, neuromuscular power, multidimensional assessment, university studentsAbstract
In sports activities, a comprehensive assessment of speed performance requires consideration of multiple neuromuscular and functional dimensions. The present study analyzed the relationship between multidimensional profiles (acceleration speed, jump power, postural capacity, and joint mobility) in an active university population, considering differences in sex and body composition. Fifty-four university students (13 women, 41 men) from the Physical Activity and Sports Sciences program at the Catholic University of Valencia participated in a protocol that included anthropometric assessments, joint mobility tests (modified Thomas and Biering-Sørensen), vertical jumps (SJ, CMJ, and Abalakov), elastic index, and a 30-meter acceleration test. The analysis included descriptive statistics, sex-based comparisons (Welch’s t -test, Mann-Whitney U, Hedges’ g ), Spearman correlations, principal component analysis, and multiple linear regression analyses by sex and BMI. Men showed significantly better performance in sprint and jumps ( p < 0.001, Hedges g = 2.226). The 30-meter time was inversely associated with CMJ and SJ ( ρ = -0.627 and ρ = -0.638, respectively; p < 0.001). Linear regression showed that CMJ and SJ explained 54.9% and 55.8% of the sprint variance, respectively (adjusted R² ≥ 0.532), maintaining significance after adjustment for sex and BMI. The elastic index was not significantly associated with performance. This study highlights the importance of integrating multiple field tests to characterize the multidimensional physical profile of university students, emphasizing jump power as a predictor of sprint performance, with significant sex differences that should be considered in physical assessments.
References
Anicic, Z., Janicijevic, D., Knezevic, O. M., Garcia-Ramos, A., Petrovic, M. R., Cabarkapa, D., & Mirkov, D. M. (2023). Assessment of countermovement jump: What should we report? Life (Basel, Switzerland), 13(1), 190. https://doi.org/10.3390/life13010190
Bautista-Sánchez, D. A., García-Chaves, D. C., & Corredor-Serrano, L. F. (2025). Efectos de un programa de entrenamiento de fuerza explosiva en 13 semanas para jugadores de fútbol categoría sub-15. Sportis. Scientific Journal of School Sport, Physical Education and Psychomotricity, 11(3), 1–21. https://doi.org/10.17979/sportis.2025.11.3.11706
Campos-Granell, J., & Gallach-Lazcorreta, J. E. (2004). Las técnicas de atletismo: Manual práctico de enseñanza. Paidotribo. Barcelona
Clark, K. P., & Ryan, L. J. (2022). Hip torque is a mechanistic link between sprint acceleration and maximum velocity performance: A theoretical perspective. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 4https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2022.945688
Cormack, S. J., Newton, R. U., McGuigan, M. R., & Doyle, T. L. A. (2008). Reliability of measures obtained during single and repeated countermovement jumps. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 3(2), 131–144. 10.1123/ijspp.3.2.131
del Soto, F.Memoria final materiales didácticos EFTIC condición física. Retrieved Jan 11, 2026, from https://es.scribd.com/document/311120618/Memoria-Final-Materiales-Didacticos-EFTIC-Condicion-Fisica
Demoulin, C., Vanderthommen, M., Duysens, C., & Crielaard, J. (2006). Spinal muscle evaluation using the sorensen test: A critical appraisal of the literature. Joint Bone Spine, 73(1), 43–50. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbspin.2004.08.002
Díaz-Cortés, J. C., Hernández-Beltrán, V., Solano-Ruiz, L. F., Cepeda-Hernández, J. A., Méndez-Castro, G. E., Becerra-Patiño, B. A., & Gamonales, J. M. (2024). Decrease in muscle shortening and effect on strength and speed in adolescent soccer players (u-13). Sportis. Scientific Journal of School Sport, Physical Education and Psychomotricity, 10(3), 735–761. https://doi.org/10.17979/sportis.2024.10.3.10779
Eimiller, K., Stoddard, E., Janes, B., Smith, M., & Vincek, A. (2024). Reliability of goniometric techniques for measuring hip flexor length using the modified thomas test. International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy, 19(8), 997–1002. https://doi.org/10.26603/001c.120899
Harvey, D. (1998). Assessment of the flexibility of elite athletes using the modified Thomas test. British journal of sports medicine, 32(1), 68–70. doi:https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsm.32.1.68
Haugen, T., & Buchheit, M. (2016). Sprint running performance monitoring: Methodological and practical considerations. Sports Medicine, 46(5), 641–656. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-015-0446-0
Haugen, T., Seiler, S., Sandbakk, Ø, & Tønnessen, E. (2019). The training and development of elite sprint performance: An integration of scientific and best practice literature. Sports Medicine - Open, 5(1), 44. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40798-019-0221-0
Hulse, M. A., Morris, J. G., Hawkins, R. D., Hodson, A., Nevill, A. M., & Nevill, M. E. (2013). A field-test battery for elite, young soccer players. International Journal of Sports Medicine, 34(4), 302–311. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0032-1312603
Hunter, J., Marshall, R. N., & McNair, P. J. (2005). Relationships between ground reaction force impulse and kinematics of sprint-running acceleration. Journal of Applied Biomechanics, 21(1), 31–43. https://doi.org/10.1123/jab.21.1.31
Hunter, S. K., & Senefeld, J. W. (2024). Sex differences in human performance. The Journal of Physiology, 602(17), 4129–4156. https://doi.org/10.1113/JP284198
Kassambara, A. (2020). Ggpubr:“Ggplot2” based publication ready plots. 2020. R Package Version 0.4.0,
Kim, G., & Ha, S. (2015). Reliability of the modified thomas test using a lumbo-plevic stabilization. Journal of Physical Therapy Science, 27(2), 447–449. https://doi.org/10.1589/jpts.27.447
Likić, S., Smajlović, N., Hmjelovjec, I., & Vidović, N. (2008). Prediction of achivement in athletic disciplines 60m running, 60m hurdles and triple jump by means of some morphological and motor dimensions. Homo Sporticus, 10(2)
Loturco, I., Freitas, T. T., Zabaloy, S., Pereira, L. A., Moura, T. B. M. A., Fernandes, V., Mercer, V. P., Alcaraz, P. E., Zając, A., & Bishop, C. (2023). Speed training practices of brazilian olympic sprint and jump coaches: Toward a deeper understanding of their choices and insights (part II). Journal of Human Kinetics, 89, 187–211. https://doi.org/10.5114/jhk/174071
Marín, C. A. S., Chacua, W. A. E., Chavarro, J. G., Rodríguez, L. A. M., & Virgen, J. D. G. (2025). Modelo predictivo del sprint basado en salto contramovimiento e índice de masa corporal en futbolistas. Sportis. Scientific Journal of School Sport, Physical Education and Psychomotricity, 11(4), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.17979/sportis.2025.11.4.11646
Marques, A., Henriques-Neto, D., Peralta, M., Martins, J., Gomes, F., Popovic, S., Masanovic, B., Demetriou, Y., Schlund, A., & Ihle, A. (2021). Field-based health-related physical fitness tests in children and adolescents: A systematic review. Frontiers in Pediatrics, 9, 640028. https://doi.org/10.3389/fped.2021.640028
Martín Acero, R. (1993). Velocidad y velocidad en deportes de equipo, colección CadernosTécnico-pedagóxicos do INEF de galicia, A coruñaA Coruña
McGill, S. M., Childs, A., & Liebenson, C. (1999). Endurance times for low back stabilization exercises: Clinical targets for testing and training from a normal database. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 80(8), 941–944. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0003-9993(99)90087-4
Nuzzo, J. L. (2024). Sex differences in skeletal muscle fiber types: A meta-analysis. Clinical Anatomy (New York, N.Y.), 37(1), 81–91. https://doi.org/10.1002/ca.24091
Ortega, M. M., Aparicio, I. A., Arenas-Granada, J., Priego-Quesada, J. I., Encarnación-Martínez, A., & Pérez-Soriano, P. (2025). Efectos del déficit bilateral sobre el salto y sentadilla trasera en futbolistas universitarios. Sportis. Scientific Journal of School Sport, Physical Education and Psychomotricity, 11(2), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.17979/sportis.2025.11.2.9744
Pandy, M. G., Lai, A. K. M., Schache, A. G., & Lin, Y. (2021). How muscles maximize performance in accelerated sprinting. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 31(10), 1882–1896. https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.14021
Picabea-Arburu, J. M., & Ozaeta-Beaskoetxea, E. (2025). Sex differences in jump capacity and elastic index in table tennis players. Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology, 10(2), 99. https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk10020099
Poudel, B., & Pandey, S. (2024). Hamstring injury. StatPearls . StatPearls Publishing.
R Core Team. (2022). R: A language and environment for statistical computing. R foundation for statistical computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing, 10.1007/978-1-4020-6850-8
Sánchez-Pato, A., Pascual, E. C., García, L. M., Estero, J. L. A., & García-Roca, J. A. (2018). Estudio del éxito académico de un modelo universitaro de carrera dual en deportistas -estudiantes según género, nivel de estudios y deporte. Revista Española De Educación Física Y Deportes, (421), ág. 35–47. https://doi.org/10.55166/reefd.vi421.664
Schauberger, P., Walker, A., & Braglia, L. (2020). Openxlsx: Read, write and edit xlsx files. R Package Version, 4(5)
Shaw, J., Jacobs, J., Van Dillen, L., Beneck, G., & Smith, J. (2024). Understanding the biering-sørensen test: Contributors to extensor endurance in young adults with and without a history of low back pain. Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology: Official Journal of the International Society of Electrophysiological Kinesiology, 74, 102854. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jelekin.2023.102854
Swain, D. P., Brawner, C. A., & American College of Sports Medicine. (2012). ACSM's resource manual for guidelines for exercise testing and prescription Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Ward-Smith, A. J. (2001). Energy conversion strategies during 100 m sprinting. Journal of Sports Sciences, 19(9), 701–710. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640410152475838
Wells, K. F., & Dillon, E. K. (1952). The sit and Reach—A test of back and leg flexibility. Research Quarterly. American Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation, 23(1), 115–118. https://doi.org/10.1080/10671188.1952.10761965
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Julio Martín-Ruiz, Laura Ruiz-Sanchis (Autor/a)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
The works published in this journal are subject to the following terms:
The author retains the economic rights (copyright) of the published works and grants the journal the right of first publication.
The works are published in the electronic edition of the journal under a Creative Commons Attribution–NonCommercial–ShareAlike license. They may be copied, used, distributed, transmitted, and publicly displayed, provided that: (i) authorship and the original source of publication (journal, publisher, and URL of the work) are cited; (ii) they are not used for commercial purposes; (iii) the existence and specifications of this license are indicated.
Self-archiving conditions. Authors are permitted and encouraged to disseminate electronically the post-print versions (publisher’s version), as this facilitates earlier circulation and dissemination, potentially increasing citation and reach within the academic community. Authors may also deposit their articles in repositories and other platforms that support the dissemination of information, provided that the version used is the post-print (publisher’s version). RoMEO color: Blue.
