KMAN Publication Inc. International Journal of Sport Studies for Health 2588-5782 9 Serial Number 27 2026 10 01 Pre-to-Post Changes in Planned Change-of-Direction and Sprint Performance Following Eight Weeks of Adaptive Footwork Training in SL3 and SL4 Para-Badminton Athletes: A Preliminary Single-Group Study Pre-to-Post Changes in Planned Change-of-Direction and Sprint Performance Following Eight Weeks of Adaptive Footwork Training in SL3 and SL4 Para-Badminton Athletes: A Preliminary Single-Group Study 1 15 10.61838/kman.intjssh.5960 EN Journal Article 2026 08 20 <table> <tbody> <tr> <td> <p><strong>Objective:</strong>  Evidence on structured footwork training in standing lower-limb para-badminton athletes remains limited, particularly across SL3 and SL4 classifications. This preliminary exploratory study examined pre-to-post changes in planned change-of-direction and sprint performance following an eight-week adaptive footwork training programme and explored whether response patterns differed between SL3 and SL4 athletes.</p> <p><strong>Methods and Materials: </strong>Sixteen provincial-level para-badminton athletes (SL3, n = 8; SL4, n = 8) completed a single-group pretest–posttest intervention consisting of 24 sessions over eight weeks (three sessions/week). Planned change-of-direction performance was assessed using the T-test and linear sprint performance using the 20-m sprint test. Paired-samples t-tests, Cohen’s dz, percentage change, and 2 × 2 mixed-design ANOVA (Time × Sport Classification) were used.</p> <p><strong>Findings:</strong> T-test completion time decreased from 16.06 ± 0.52 to 15.50 ± 0.50 s (3.53%; p &lt; 0.001; dz = 3.63), while 20-m sprint time decreased from 6.07 ± 0.70 to 5.54 ± 0.51 s (8.69%; p &lt; 0.001; dz = 1.76). The Time × Classification interaction was not significant for T-test performance (p = 0.292) but was significant for sprint performance (p = 0.004), with a larger reduction in SL3 than SL4 athletes. Training adherence was high (95.50 ± 3.54%).</p> <p><strong>Conclusion:</strong> Lower post-intervention T-test and sprint times were observed following the programme, with a preliminary classification-related sprint pattern. Because of the single-group design, small sample, and exploratory subgroup analyses, these findings should not be interpreted as definitive evidence of causal intervention efficacy.</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> https://journals.kmanpub.com/index.php/Intjssh/article/download/5960/11916