Movement Variability Research Articles

Inter- and intra-athlete technique variability of conventional new ball swing bowling in elite and pre-elite Australian male fast bowlers

ABSTRACT This study aimed to investigate inter- and intra-athlete technique variability in pre-elite and elite Australian fast bowlers delivering new ball conventional swing bowling. Ball grip angle and pelvis, torso, shoulder, elbow, wrist, upper arm, forearm, and hand kinematics were investigated at the point of ball release for inswing and outswing deliveries. Descriptive evaluations of group and individual data and k-means cluster analyses were used to assess inter- and intra-bowler technique variability. Inter-athlete technique and ball grip variability were identified, demonstrating that skilled bowlers use individualised strategies to generate swing. Functional movement variability was demonstrated by intra-athlete variability in successful swing bowling trials. Bowlers demonstrated stable technique parameters in large proximal body segments of the pelvis and torso, providing a level of repeatability to their bowling action. Greater variation was observed in bowling arm kinematics, allowing athletes to manipulate the finger and ball position to achieve the desired seam orientation at the point of ball release. This study demonstrates that skilled bowlers use individualised techniques and grips to generate swing and employ technique variations in successive deliveries. Coaches should employ individualised training strategies and use constraints-led approaches in training environments to encourage bowlers to seek adaptive movement solutions to generate swing.

Modelling individual variability in habitat selection and movement using integrated step‐selection analysis

Abstract Integrated step‐selection analysis (ISSA) is frequently used to study habitat selection using animal movement data. Methods for incorporating random effects in ISSA have been developed, making it possible to quantify variability among animals in their space‐use patterns. Although it is possible to model variability in both habitat selection and movement parameters, applications to date have focused on the former despite the widely acknowledged and important role that movement plays in determining ecological processes from the individual to ecosystem level. One potential explanation for this omission is the absence of readily available software or examples demonstrating methods for estimating movement parameters in ISSA with random effects. We demonstrated methods for characterizing among‐individual variability in both movement and habitat‐selection parameters using a simulated data set and by fitting two models to an acoustic telemetry data set containing locations of 35 red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus). Movement kernels were assumed to depend on either the type of benthic reef habitat in which the fish was located (model 1) or the distance between the fish's current location and the nearest edge habitat (model 2). In both models, we also quantified habitat selection for different benthic habitat classes and distance to edge habitat, and we allowed for individual variability in movement and habitat‐selection parameters using random effects. The simulation example highlights the benefits of a mixed‐effects specification, namely, we can increase precision when estimating individual‐specific movement parameters by borrowing information across like individuals. In our applied example, we found substantial among‐individual variability in both habitat selection and movement parameters. Nonetheless, most red snapper selected for hardbottom habitat and for locations nearer to edge habitat. They also moved less when in hardbottom habitat. Turn angles were frequently near ± π but were more dispersed when fish were far away from edge habitat. We provide code templates and functions for quantifying variability in movement and habitat‐selection parameters when implementing ISSA with random effects. In doing so, we hope to encourage ecologists conducting ISSA to take full advantage of their ability to model among‐individual variability in both habitat‐selection and movement patterns.

The relationship between manual ability, dystonia and choreoathetosis severity and upper limb movement patterns during reaching and grasping in children and young adults with dyskinetic cerebral palsy

IntroductionImpaired upper limb movements are a key feature in dyskinetic cerebral palsy (CP). However, information on how specific movement patterns relate to manual ability, performance and underlying movement disorders is lacking. Insight in these associations may contribute to targeted upper limb management in dyskinetic CP. This study aimed to explore associations between deviant upper limb movement patterns and (1) manual ability, (2) severity of dystonia/choreoathetosis, and (3) movement time/trajectory deviation during reaching and grasping. Participants/methodsParticipants underwent three-dimensional upper limb analysis during reaching forwards (RF), reaching sideways (RS) and reach-and-grasp vertical (RGV) as well as clinical assessment. Canonical correlation and regression analysis with statistical parametric mapping were used to explore associations between clinical/performance parameters and movement patterns (mean and variability). ResultsThirty individuals with dyskinetic CP participated (mean age 16±5 y; 20 girls). Lower manual ability was related to higher variability in wrist flexion/extension during RF and RS early in the reaching cycle (p < 0.05). Higher dystonia severity was associated with higher mean wrist flexion (40–82 % of the reaching cycle; p = 0.004) and higher variability in wrist flexion/extension (31–75 %; p < 0.001) and deviation (2–14 %; p = 0.007/60–73 %; p = 0.006) during RF. Choreoathetosis severity was associated with higher elbow pro/supination variability (12–19 %; p = 0.009) during RGV. Trajectory deviation was associated with wrist and elbow movement variability (p < 0.05). ConclusionCurrent novel analysis of upper limb movement patterns and respective timings allows to detect joint angles and periods in the movement cycle wherein associations with clinical parameters occur. These associations are not present at each joint level, nor during the full movement cycle. This knowledge should be considered for individualized treatment strategies.

Investigation of the Effect of Physical Ability on the Fall Mitigation Motion Using the Combination of Experiment and Simulation

The simulation of fall plays a critical role in estimating injuries caused by fall. However, implementing human fall mitigation motions on a simulator proves challenging due to the complexity and variability of fall movement. Our simulator estimates fall motion by extrapolating the motion observed in fall experiments. By incorporating actual fall motion data for the upper limbs, we enhanced the realism of the fall simulation. The application of forward dynamics control to the lower limbs allowed for the adjustment of mitigation motions, taking into account individual physical capabilities. In this study, fall simulations were conducted under the constraints of maximum joint torque and maximum torque change rate, emulating the physical capabilities of both the elderly and young adults. Our results successfully demonstrated the mitigation motion facilitated by the stance leg reduced the descent velocity of the center of mass by 0.75 m/s for elderly individuals and by 1.25 m/s for young adults, compared to a zero torque condition. This indicates that our study introduced a novel method for quantifying the impact of the lower limbs’ physical capabilities on fall velocity. Such a method represents a significant advancement in understanding how mitigation motions can influence fall injury simulations.

Assessing Motor Variability during Squat: The Reliability of Inertial Devices in Resistance Training.

Movement control can be an indicator of how challenging a task is for the athlete, and can provide useful information to improve training efficiency and prevent injuries. This study was carried out to determine whether inertial measurement units (IMU) can provide reliable information on motion variability during strength exercises, focusing on the squat. Sixty-six healthy, strength-trained young adults completed a two-day protocol, where the variability in the squat movement was analyzed at two different loads (30% and 70% of one repetition maximum) using inertial measurement units and a force platform. The time series from IMUs and force platforms were analyzed using linear (standard deviation) and non-linear (detrended fluctuation analysis, sample entropy and fuzzy entropy) measures. Reliability was analyzed for both IMU and force platform using the intraclass correlation coefficient and the standard error of measurement. Standard deviation, detrended fluctuation analysis, sample entropy, and fuzzy entropy from the IMUs time series showed moderate to good reliability values (ICC: 0.50-0.85) and an acceptable error. The study concludes that IMUs are reliable tools for analyzing movement variability in strength exercises, providing accessible options for performance monitoring and training optimization. These findings have implications for the design of more effective strength training programs, emphasizing the importance of movement control in enhancing athletic performance and reducing injury risks.

The effects of nature-based vs. indoor settings on the adaptability, performance and affect of calisthenics exercisers. A registered report

Comparisons of the beneficial effects of nature-based versus indoor physical activity have been extensively reported, but existing research addresses mainly aerobic activity (running, jogging), not resistance or mixed (aerobic and resistance) exercise. It is unclear if the psychological benefits extend to functionality, i.e., if participants perform their activities better in nature, and how movement is expressed in nature-based and indoor environments, during similar exercise. The present registered report was a randomized controlled trial investigating how engaging in similar resistance-based exercise (calisthenics) in nature-based and indoor settings differed in affective valence, perceived exertion, visual attention, movement adaptability, heart rate variability, and performance.Nature-based exercisers (N = 51) showed increased performance output than indoor exercisers (N = 53) (p < 0.001). There were no group differences in affective valence, perceived exertion, or visual attention. However, psychological states of nature-based exercisers showed stronger associations to performance output (r < 0.33) than those of indoor exercisers (r < 0.03). Nature-based exercisers’ movement variability and structure, measured with non-linear and fractal techniques (Sample Entropy and Detrended Fluctuation Analysis), were more regular (p < 0.001) and more functionally adaptive (long-term Detrended Fluctuation Analysis, p = 0.022) to achieve better performance output. Heart rate variability measures were not different between groups.Distinct environments can influence movement adaptability in a calisthenics exercise routine, and ultimately contribute to better performance. These results show how action is specific to task environment, and how action implies not only the task, but also the characteristics of the environment. Trial registrationNCT05090501 (Clinicaltrials.gov). Registered October 21, 2021.

Intra-species variability in migratory movement of hawksbill turtles in the southwest Indian Ocean

Implementing effective conservation measures to manage migratory populations is challenging, especially in a relatively inaccessible dynamic environment such as the ocean. With limited financial and human resources, efforts must be intelligently prioritized to achieve conservation success and reduce uncertainties of conservation efforts. The southwest Indian Ocean (SWIO) hosts some of the world’s most important breeding grounds for the Critically Endangered hawksbill turtle Eretmochelys imbricata. However, knowledge gaps remain about the movement patterns of this species. Between 2007 and 2022, we deployed 17 satellite tags onto hawksbill turtles from scattered locations in the SWIO: 16 nesting females—Granitic Islands, Seychelles (n = 9); north Madagascar (n = 5); Moheli, Comoros (n = 1); Juan de Nova, Terres australes et antarctiques françaises (n = 1)—and 1 female bycaught in fisheries (east Madagascar). We found strong variability in migratory movements amongst individuals, particularly in terms of distance and movement persistence. Detailed analysis of movement persistence reveals that these individuals behave differently in neritic and oceanic habitats, with a lower movement persistence in neritic habitats. We identified a total of 12 foraging areas scattered throughout the SWIO, both in coastal and open-sea neritic habitats. These results reinforce the need to consider the importance of neritic habitats, for both migration and foraging, in conservation policies. The quantification of the degree of migratory variability is particularly important to developing conservation plans and strategies at both the national and international level, including the delineation of regional management units (RMUs) in the Indian Ocean.

Regional differences in the biological variability of plantar pressure as a basis for refining diagnostic gait analysis.

The variability of movement plays a crucial role in shaping individual's gait pattern and could, therefore, potentially serve diagnostic purposes. Nevertheless, existing concepts for the use of variability in diagnosing gait present a challenge due to the lack of adequate benchmarks and methods for comparison. We assessed the individuality of contribution of foot parts that directly mediate the transmission of forces between the foot and the ground in body weight shifting during walking based on 200 pedobarometric measurements corresponding to the analysed foot parts for each of 19 individuals in a homogeneous study group. Our results show a degree of individualisation of the contribution of particular foot parts in the weight-shift high enough to justify the need to consider it in the diagnostic analysis. Furthermore they reveal noticeable, functionally driven differences between plantar areas most apparent between the lowest individuality for the first foot ray and the highest for second one and metatarsus. The diagnostic reference standard in pedobarometry should describe the contribution in the shift of body weight during walking for each area of the foot separately and include information on the intra-individual variation and individualisation of descriptors of the contribution. Such a comprehensive standard has the potential to increase the diagnostic value of pedobarometry through enrichment of the assessment description.

Generalization in de novo learning of virtual upper limb movements is influenced by motor exploration.

The acquisition of new motor skills from scratch, also known as de novo learning, is an essential aspect of motor development. In de novo learning, the ability to generalize skills acquired under one condition to others is crucial because of the inherently limited range of motor experiences available for learning. However, the presence of generalization in de novo learning and its influencing factors remain unclear. This study aimed to elucidate the generalization of de novo motor learning by examining the motor exploration process, which is the accumulation of motor experiences. To this end, we manipulated the exploration process during practice by changing the target shape using either a small circular target or a bar-shaped target. Our findings demonstrated that the amount of learning during practice was generalized across different conditions. Furthermore, the extent of generalization is influenced by movement variability in the control space, which is irrelevant to the task, rather than the target shapes themselves. These results confirmed the occurrence of generalization in de novo learning and suggest that the exploration process within the control space plays a significant role in facilitating this generalization.

Motor creativity assessment: A test-retest reliability and validity protocol study in fibromyalgia and healthy women

IntroductionPrevious studies have found brain abnormalities and deficits in cognitive functions in people with fibromyalgia. It is known that choreography or creative tasks significantly generate cognitive improvements. Various methods have been described in the literature to evaluate creative activities using electroencephalography (EEG), such as the imagination of dance improvisations. However, there is the notion that creative solutions can emerge during the action and that creative motor action may reflect new, statistically rare, and adaptive coordination and/or the control solutions performed. AimThis study seeks to establish an operational approach to test how constraints are combined to induce variability of movement and how to evaluate it, but without forgetting the ideation or preparation of the activity as a relevant section in the study of motor creativity. To this end, this study aims to validate and test the reliability and applicability of an innovative test of motor creativity: The Motor Creativity Assessment (MCA), with the aim of achieving an objective score of motor creativity that can be used to test patients and monitor the interventions. Material and methodsto correctly satisfy the requirements of the standard protocol for clinical trials, this study has followed the SPIRIT 2013 Statement Items. A total of 13 women with fibromyalgia and 13 healthy women were included in the study. The individual's cognitive impairment, sleep quality, pain, quality of life, level of physical activity, fear of falling, and the impact of fibromyalgia will be studied. This study develops a specific test of motor creativity without the use of objects, with the aim of achieving an objective score of motor creativity. An observation score sheet allows motor creativity to be analyzed and scored by viewing a video of the creative movement test. The Enobio® instrument (Neuroelectrics, Cambridge, MA, USA) and Neuroelectrics® instrument driver software (NIC1) were used to record EEG and heart rate variability signals.

Functional movement variability to maintain delivery speed in cricket fast bowling

AbstractFast bowling in cricket involves a complex multiarticular action performed at high speed. Functional movement variability plays an important role in helping the performer to maintain the consistency of performance outcomes, although this has not previously been examined in cricket fast bowling in relation to maintaining consistent delivery speed. Therefore, this study investigated how variability of delivery stride movement timings contributes to maintaining consistent bowling speed. Footage of six deliveries from 92 male fast bowlers were analyzed. Delivery speed was recorded, and the time of back foot contact, front foot contact and ball release were identified. The variability of movement timings and the delivery speed were determined using the coefficient of variation. Results showed greater variability in delivery stride movement timings compared to delivery speed. These findings suggest that bowlers may use movement variability to adjust their functional movement coordination pattern during the bowling action to achieve consistent bowling speed.

Variability of gross and fine motor control in different tasks in fibromyalgia patients

Fibromyalgia (FM) is normally defined as a widespread pain syndrome or disease that presents disturbances in gross and fine motor control. As a gross motor control skill, gait requires coordination, balance, and muscle strength, and it could be an essential factor for FM patients to perform daily activities. Measuring the spatial and temporal gait parameters or gait variability has been used to assess motor pathologies and identify gait disorders. The Lyapunov exponent is a non-linear measure of variability, which quantifies the ability that the system has to attenuate small perturbances, indicating that there might be a relationship between balance and spatiotemporal gait parameters. This technique has already been used for gait analysis and could be used in fine and gross daily tasks, such as the finger tapping test (FTT) or the sit-and-stand test. Inertial Measurement Units have also been used to analyze gross motor control, namely in gait variability. So, the aim of this study is to analyze and compare the variability of gross and fine motor movements between patients with FM and a control group. The sample included 20 female participants, 10 with FM and 10 without (46.150 ± 12.835 years old). To analyze gross motricity, participants were asked to perform the gait task for two minutes and the 30-second chair sit-and-stand test; and to analyze fine motor control, they were asked to perform six trials of FTT test with both hands. To collect the data, an inertial sensor (IMU) was used. FM patients showed a more irregular pattern of linear acceleration peaks than controls in both tasks. Lyapunov values in FM patients show greater instability and variability in the anteroposterior and vertical movements for gait analysis and present significantly higher variability in the anteroposterior movements when performing the sit and stand task and the finger tapping test. Keywords: Fibromyalgia; Gross Motor Control; Gait; Sit and Stand; Variability; Lyapunov; IMU

The Effect of Pyramid and Reverse Pyramid Loadings on Spine and Pelvis Coordination Variability During Squat

Background and Aims Pyramid and reverse pyramid loading patterns are used to increase the training load in resistance training. Although physiological studies have attempted to compare the two patterns, the difference between the two loading patterns on the biomechanics of the spine and pelvis has not been determined. This study aimed to investigate the effect of pyramid and inverted pyramid loadings on spinal and pelvic coordination variability in squat movement. Methods Twelve bodybuilding athletes in Tehran City, Iran, voluntarily participated in this study. The subjects performed squat movements as the pyramid and reverse pyramid at intensities of 50%, 70%, and 90% of ten maximum repetitions. Then, the kinematic information of the three segments of their spine and pelvis was recorded. Coordination and variability coordination were calculated using a modified vector coding method. Results The results of repeated measures analysis of variance showed a significant difference in the coordination pattern for pelvic-lower back coordination, lower-back to lower-trunk spine, and lower-trunk-to-upper-trunk spine in the intensity of 50%. A significant difference was observed in the coordination pattern, with an intensity of 70% for the lower back and lower trunk spine. Also, no statistical significance was observed between the pyramidal and inverted pyramidal loading types for spine and pelvis coordination. Conclusion According to the results of increasing the load in pyramid loading and decreasing the load in reverse loading, the coordination of distal couplings affected the sagittal plane more than the proximal one. It is recommended to use the reverse pyramid method for exercises and be more careful when performing pyramid exercises.

Relationship between Fundamental Movement Skills and Variability in Postural Control: Comparison of Children with and without Intellectual Disability

Relationship between Fundamental Movement Skills and Variability in Postural Control: Comparison of Children with and without Intellectual Disability

Reinforcement Learning during Locomotion.

When learning a new motor skill, people often must use trial and error to discover which movement is best. In the reinforcement learning framework, this concept is known as exploration and has been linked to increased movement variability in motor tasks. For locomotor tasks, however, increased variability decreases upright stability. As such, exploration during gait may jeopardize balance and safety, making reinforcement learning less effective. Therefore, we set out to determine if humans could acquire and retain a novel locomotor pattern using reinforcement learning alone. Young healthy male and female participants walked on a treadmill and were provided with binary reward feedback (indicated by a green checkmark on the screen) that was tied to a fixed monetary bonus, to learn a novel stepping pattern. We also recruited a comparison group who walked with the same novel stepping pattern but did so by correcting for target error, induced by providing real-time veridical visual feedback of steps and a target. In two experiments, we compared learning, motor variability, and two forms of motor memories between the groups. We found that individuals in the binary reward group did, in fact, acquire the new walking pattern by exploring (increasing motor variability). Additionally, while reinforcement learning did not increase implicit motor memories, it resulted in more accurate explicit motor memories compared with the target error group. Overall, these results demonstrate that humans can acquire new walking patterns with reinforcement learning and retain much of the learning over 24 h.

Multifractal information on reading eye tracking data

The study of the multifractal characteristics of physiological processes attracted wide interest in recent decades, since evidence has been found that the presence of certain alterations in these processes is reflected in the variability of their dynamics. However, neurocognitive processes have not been so widely studied from this perspective. We aim to provide new insights regarding the alterations that dyslexia produces in eye movements during reading. For this reason, we performed fractal and multifractal analysis of eye movements of children with and without dyslexia. This investigation showed that disorders in the cognitive process of reading, such as the one caused by dyslexia, induce slight alterations in the variability of eye movements usually found in neurotypical subjects. In particular, we found differences in the dynamics of fixations and saccades presented by children with dyslexia, a fact that is reflected in the long-range correlation behavior of the recorded eye-tracking data. This finding may provide hints about the neurocognitive organization of the reading process and how it is altered in dyslexic subjects, and also an inexpensive and non-invasive means to detect the condition in its early stages.

Guidelines for balancing the number of trials and the number of subjects to ensure the statistical power to detect variability – Implication for gait studies

Variability is one of the most crucial outcomes in human movement studies: variance and standard deviation of various parameters have been reported in numerous studies. However, in many of these studies, the numbers of trials and subjects have been intuitively determined and not justified with statistical considerations. Here, we investigated the impact of the numbers of trials and subjects on statistical power, based on the assumption that results per trial follow a normal distribution, using mathematical analysis and numerical simulation. An inverse-like relationship was observed between the number of trials and subjects required to ensure the statistical power for detecting differences in variance between subject groups or conditions. For instance, assuming a 1.2-times difference in population variance between pre-and post-training sessions as an alternative hypothesis, our simulation demonstrated that combinations of the number of subjects and trials, such as measuring 100 trials from each of 12 subjects under each condition, or measuring 20 trials from each of 60 subjects, can guarantee an 80 % of statistical power. Planning research based on such mathematical considerations will enable meaningful statistical interpretations in studies focusing on movement variability, such as gait studies.

Skill shapes functional movement variability and exploration tendencies: the effect of skill under changing environmental constraints on the emergence of creative action in a divergent kickboxing task

ABSTRACT Creative actions are both functional and unique, furnishing significant performance advantages in sport. We examined the proposition that the occurrence of creative actions has a common behavioural mechanism, exploration, that is driven by motor skill. Using a kickboxing task, we assessed the effect of skill on the degree of uniqueness and functionality of striking actions, which were determined using full body kinematic data and measures of peak impact force respectively. We expected that, since the task was designed to stimulate exploration (by varying the body-scaled distance to a target boxing bag), expert kickboxers (N = 21) would be more creative due to the functional characteristics of their actions in comparison to novices (N = 21). The results generally supported expectations, indicating that experts demonstrated a significantly greater number of functional action variants than novices. And, when functionality was not accounted for, both experts and novices were equally capable of developing unique actions. Interestingly, for both groups, the number of unique actions exhibited was strongly positively correlated with the tendency to distribute exploration of actions broadly across action variants. However, experts revealed a significantly reduced tendency to distributed exploration across action variants compared to novices which was likely due to the experts avoiding less functional actions at close and far distances to the target. Promoting creative action occurrence during practice is linked to exploration and functional movement variability which may be stimulated by learning environments and tasks that are scaled to individual constraints.

Effects of Adding Mechanical Vibration and a Stick on Acceleration and Movement Variability during a Slide-Board Skating Exercise: Differences between the Dominant and Non-Dominant Legs

The aim of the present study was to analyse differences in acceleration and movement variability caused by adding whole-body vibration (WBV) and an implement (stick) while performing a slide-board (SB) skating exercise. A total of 10 professional ice-hockey players (age 20.4 ± 2.07 years) participated in the study. Participants performed 30 s of lateral sliding on a slide vibration board (SVB). Four conditions were analysed: no vibration and no stick (NVNS), no vibration with a stick (NVS), vibration without a stick (VNS) and vibration with a stick (VS). Peak acceleration, mean acceleration and movement variability (MV) were analysed in the dominant and non-dominant legs in each condition. Peak acceleration was higher in the non-dominant leg (p &lt; 0.01). However, MV was higher in the dominant leg (p &lt; 0.01). Regarding differences between conditions, mean acceleration was higher in VNS and VS than in NVS (p &lt; 0.05). Regarding MV (sample entropy), there were differences in NVNS compared to VNS and VS (p &lt; 0.01) and in NVS compared to VNS and VS (p &lt; 0.01), with the values being superior in VNS and VS. The addition of WBV during an SB skating exercise results in an increase in MV and mean acceleration. The dominant leg shows greater MV regardless of the addition of vibration and a stick during sliding on an SVB.

Influence of the Slope and Gate Offset on Movement Variability and Performance in Slalom Skiing

Adaptability to all types of terrain changes, slopes, and course settings is a key aspect related to the coordinative ability that elite skiers possess. In recent years, several studies have analyzed coordinative aspects of different motor actions via the assessment of movement variability (MV), an indicator of the motor control that assesses movement regularity. The aims of this study were (a) to evaluate the influence of different slopes and slalom (SL) gate offsets on MV and performance and (b) to assess the relationship between MV and performance. Four SL courses were set: a flat-turned (FT), a steep-turned (ST), a flat-straighter (FS), and a steep-straighter (SS). Five elite alpine skiers (21.2 ± 3.3 years, 180.2 ± 5.6 cm, 72.8 ± 6.6 kg) completed several runs at maximum speed for each SL course. A total of 77 runs were obtained. The use of an IMU accelerometer attached to the lower back of skiers measured MV through entropy. The skiers’ performance was evaluated with the total time of each run. The one-way repeated measures analysis revealed that the steepness of the slope significantly increases skiers’ MV, concretely between FS and ST courses (p = 0.004). Differences at the 10% level have been found between FS and SS and FT and ST courses (p= 0.055 and p = 0.078, respectively). For a given slope, turned courses (FT and ST) tend to produce a higher MV. In addition, faster times correlate with lower MV (r = 0.587, p = 0.01). It has been observed that both steeper and turned courses produce greater MV and that the best performing skiers have lower MV. Determining MV through entropy can be used to assess skiers’ expertise regarding different types of slopes and gate offsets.