Abstract
Background: Explosive strength of the lower extremities and agility are important parts of game performance in basketball. Although numerous studies have focused on the assessment of the training effect of plyometric training, studies focusing on elite players are missing. Objective: The aim of the study was to find out what changes in explosive strength of the lower extremities take place after a 6 week plyometric training applied in training units during the pre-season in elite basketball players. Methods: Elite basketball players (N = 12, age 24.36 ± 3.9 years, height 196.2 ± 9.6 cm, weight 92.9 ± 13.9 kg) performed a 6 week plyometric training (PT) programme predominantly focused on explosive strength of the lower body and upper body and was conducted in sixteen training units during pre-season. The changes in explosive strength were measured by the Counter Movement Jump Free Arms test and Two Step Run Up Jump test; agility was measured using the "T" Drill test and Hexagonal Obstacle test. The players participated in three measurements. The 1st (pretesting) was performed on the first day of pre-season, the 2nd (post-testing) was done two days after completing the PT programme and the 3rd (post-testing) six weeks after completing the PT programme. Friedman's ANOVA for repeated measurements was used to determine the significance of differences between the measurement sessions (p < .05). Results: A significant effect of the training programme was observed only for the Hexagonal Obstacle test (p = .01). A post hoc analysis revealed a significant increase in test performance between the 1st and 3rd measurement (p < .01) and between the 2nd and 3rd measurement (p < .01). Conclusions: The results of the study of elite basketball players did not positively support the assumption that plyometric exercises can be an effective tool for the improvement of explosive strength and agility. However, in some players the improvements corresponded to average improvements after training programmes presented in literature.
Highlights
Basketball is a multifaceted and complex intermittent team sport that combines cyclic and acyclic movements (Erčulj, Blas, & Bračič, 2010)
The aim of the study was to find out what changes in explosive strength of the lower extremities take place after a 6 week plyometric training (PT) applied in training units (TUs) during pre-season in elite basketball players
The results of the current study showed that the 6 week pre-season training programme with plyometric exercises did not produce significant changes in average values of the vertical jump tests applied
Summary
Basketball is a multifaceted and complex intermittent team sport that combines cyclic and acyclic movements (Erčulj, Blas, & Bračič, 2010). Plyometric training (PT) is ranked among the most frequently used methods for the development of the Plyometric exercises consist of a rapid eccentric action immediately followed by a concentric action of the muscle and connective tissue aiming at the development of maximum force in the shortest possible time (Bosco, 1985; Potach & Chu, 2008) This regime of muscle contractions called the stretch-shortening cycle (SSC) is a typical part of muscle activity in a number of specific basketball activities such as acceleration, changing the direction of running, vertical jump (shooting, blocking, rebounding), passing. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to find out what changes in explosive strength of the lower extremities take place after a 6 week plyometric training applied in training units during the pre-season in elite basketball players. In some players the improvements corresponded to average improvements after training programmes presented in literature
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