Bioenergetics and Time-Motion Analysis of Competitive Basketball

Abstract

Listen

Translate article

Although basketball has been considered highly intensive, objective findings about actual bioenergetic demands of this sport are limited. PURPOSE: To assess bioenergetic traits of collegiate basketball by measuring oxygen consumption (VO2), heart rate (HR), blood lactate concentration (LA), and perceived exertion (RPE), as well as performing a time-motion analysis in team scrimmages. METHODS: Six female and six male collegiate basketball players (20.0 ± 1.2 and 20.8 ± 0.9 years old, respectively) were recruited as subjects. Each subject was monitored for 20 min in a team scrimmage while wearing a portable metabolic measurement system. All scrimmages were conducted in the same way as actual games with the presence of referees, coaches, and spectators. VO2 and HR were measured by the portable system every 20 sec during the scrimmage and LA and RPE were measured in brief breaks every 5 min. Also, the subject's performance was videotaped to conduct time-motion analysis. A treadmill GXT (graded exercise test) was performed on a separate day to measure VOpmmax. RESULTS: The female and male players demonstrated VO2 of 33.4 ± 3.6 and 37.0 ± 2.4 ml/kg/min and LA of3.2±0.8 and 4.1 ± 1.2mmol/L throughout the scrimmages. They spent 34.1 % of play time performing active movements including running and jumping while 56.9 % of time walking and 9.0 % standing. No significant differences were observed between females and males in the variables measured (P>0.05), except that the males expended significantly greater energy through the scrimmages (356.5 ± 60.0 vs. 239.0 ± 29.5 kcal; p <0.05). VO2max (6 females and 4 males) was significantly correlated to VO2 during play (r2 = 0.45; p<0.05) and percent of duration for active movements during play (r2 = 0.88 for females and 0.93 for males; p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated a greater oxygen cost playing basketball than the value in a previously developed compendium (28.0 ml/kg/min). The correlation analysis suggests that enhancement of aerobic capacity allows greater activity of play in basketball.Figure