Comparison of discrete point and continuous data analysis for identifying performance determining factors

Abstract

The aim of this study is to compare the effectiveness in identifying performance determining factors (PDFs) using discrete point analysis (DPA), functional principal component analysis (fPCA) and a novel technique, analysis of characterizing phases (ACP). Twenty five vertical ground reaction force (vGRF) curves, recorded during a countermovement jump, were analyzed. DPA inappropriately identified the rate of force development as a PDF, due to bi-modal vGRF curves. In contrast, fPCA and ACP identified the phase around the peak vGRF before and after the rapid drop in force as a PDF. The continuous techniques showed greater benefit in analyzing the captured data as they are not affected by the timing of key variables (e.g. peak vGRF), indicate the period over which a PDF occurs and do not discard potentially important information.