DYNAMIC FACTORIAL STRUCTURE OF PHYSICAL CONDITION IN A FEMALE COMPETITIVE WALKER
Takahiro Nakano, Takeshi Nishijima · Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise · 2003
PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to identify the dynamic fluctuation factor structure of physical condition in a competitive female walker by using dynamic factor analysis (DFA) and confirmatory factor analysis. METHODS The subject was 23 years old at the time of testing was one of the representative players in 2002 Asian Olympic games in Korea. Fifteen selected items concerning perceived condition, training and her regular lifestyle were recorded by herself on the “Quality Control (QC) Sheet” every day for 714 days. Common fluctuation factors of perceived condition with time lag consideration was extracted from multivariate time-series data using DFA with the maximum likelihood (ML) method and varimax rotation. In addition, the relations between fluctuation factors and the dynamic fluctuation factor structure of the condition were identified by confirmatory factor analysis. RESULTS It was judged that the lag-1 variance/covariance was most optimal for DFA according to autocorrelation and partial autocorrelation coefficient in each variable. Three factors of weather, sleep, and awakening were extracted by DFA in all lag models. The practice factor was extracted in only lag-0 model, and the perceived condition factor was extracted only in lag-1 model. The dynamic fluctuation factor structure of the physical condition was more appropriate than the fluctuation factor structure in which time lag was not considered. CONCLUSIONS It is concluded that fluctuation factor structure of physical condition of an individual competitive walker could be demonstrated by the dynamic factorial structure.