Under Recovery and Drop Jump Characteristics During a Collegiate Basketball Season in Female Basketball Players

Abstract

Collegiate basketball is a demanding sport that requires extensive in-season training which can sometimes lead to under- recovery potentially resulting in poor performance, injury, or illness. To minimize the risk of this occurring and to promote optimal performance across the season, frequent testing may be necessary. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the performance characteristics and in-season recovery of female basketball players using drop jump characteristics: contact time (CT), flight time (FT), relative peak force (RPF), rate of force development (RFD), jump height (JH), reactive strength index (RSI), and recovery-stress states (RESTQ-Sport). METHODS: Participants were 14 NCAA Division-1 female basketball players (age = 19.29 ± 1.54 years, mass = 76.09 ± 14.09kg, height = 178.70 ± 6.3cm). During each test session, participants filled out the REST-Q Sport questionnaire, which assesses self-perceived stress and recovery, prior to performing two drop jumps. The jump trials were performed with an arm swing from a height of 30cm onto two 400x600mm forceplates (AMTI, Model OR-6, Watertown, MA) with data sampled at 1000 Hz. Participants were assessed on three occasions (T1, T2, T3) over the month of preseason training with approximately two weeks between test dates and on four occasions (T4, T5, T6, T7) throughout the season. Total recovery stress score, global recovery score, and global stress score were also calculated throughout the season. RESULTS: With the significance level set at p<0.05, repeated measures ANOVA revealed significant differences in FT (p = 0.017), JH (p = .000), and RSI (p = 0.018) across time. Significant differences in FT were found between T1 (.453 ± 0.03s) to T3 (.436 ± 0.04s, p = 0.043) and to T4 (.432 ± .02, p = 0.035). There were significant differences in JH between T1 (.254 ± 0.03m) to T3 (.233 ± 0.04m, p = 0.021), T4 (.230 ± .02, p = 0.035), and to T7 (.230 ± .02m, p = .000). RSI was found to be significant between T1 (.651 ± .25) to T3 (.607 ± .20, p = 0.045) and to T4 (.559 ± .018, p = 0.027). Significant differences were also observed in total- recovery stress score (p = 0.001), global recovery (p = 0.001), and global stress scores (p = 0.01). Total-recovery stress was significant between T1 (4.68 ± 13.12) to T2 (.447 ± 11.52, p = 0.023), T4 (−1.91 ± 11.80, p = 0.010), T5 (−11.30 ± 21.30, p = 0.007), and to T6 (−5.73 ± 8.58, p = 0.005). Global recovery was significant between T1 (28.82 ± 9.38) to T4 (23.13 ± 7.76, p = 0.013), T5 (21.02 ± 9.53, p = 0.012), and to T6 (22.41 ± 6.06, p = 0.005). Global stress was significant between T1 (24.14 ± 7.21) to T5 (32.32 ± 12.99, p = 0.015). CONCLUSIONS: The results show drop jump characteristics declined throughout the course of a basketball season. The abnormally high stress scores and low recovery scores may suggest a hindrance in female basketball players' ability to perform well at the end of the season. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The data justifies using simple performance and psychological tests to help strength and conditioning coaches monitor information regarding stress and recovery of female collegiate athletes during in-season training.