Age Differences in Measures of Functional Movement and Performance in Highly Youth Basketball Players

Abstract

Background:There is a lack of information about the influence of age on functional movement tests (FMT) and performance tests as well as in their relationships in young basketball players. Purpose:The purpose of the present study was to determine the variations in FMT and jump and/or sprint performance scores between age groups (U-14 vs. U-16) in Highly-trained young basketball players. The second purpose was to investigate the relationship between FMT for lower body and jump and/or sprint performance in highlytrained young (U-14 and U-16) male basketball players. Study Design: Descriptive study.Methods: Thirty elite young (U-14 to U-16) male basketball players performed several FMT (weight-bearing dorsiflexion test [WB-DF] and a modified Star Excursion Balance test [SEBT]) and performance including unilateral and bilateral countermovement jumps, unilateral horizontal jumping, linear sprinting and performance tests.Results: All anthropometric and performance tests showed a statistically significant advantage (p<0.05) in the U-16 group, excluding the unilateral jump with left leg (p=0.127). Five out of the eight FMT performed showed a statistically significant advantage (p<0.05) in the U-16 group. The U-14 group did not differ statistically from the U-16 group in WB-DF with left leg and the SEBT anterior right leg and posteromedial left leg reaches. Effect size calculations did show small to moderate effects in favor of U-16. Only two significant correlations (p<0.05) between functional movement and performance measures were identified in the U-16 group for either limb (10-m sprint and SEBT-PL L , SEBT-Composite L ), while a total of 13 significant correlations (p<0.05) in the U-14 group were found. Conclusions:The results of this study demonstrated differences in FMT and jump and/or sprint performance test between age groups (U-16 vs U-14). The findings of this study support the idea that the age of the player should be considered when interpreting FMT scores, which could have implications when implementing the FMT for injury risk prediction.

Influence of Anthropometry, Age, Sex, and Activity Level on the Hand Reach Star Excursion Balance Test

“…These findings contradict the influence of age on other measures of dynamic postural control such as the SEBT, where reach measurements increase with age (Holden et al, 2016; Gonzalo-Skok et al, 2017; McCann et al, 2017). However, these findings are based on young populations.…”

“…However, these findings are based on young populations. Older basketball players (16 years) had increased SEBT measurements in some directions when compared to younger players (14 years) (Gonzalo-Skok et al, 2017). In a similar age group Holden and co-workers reported that 13-year-olds increased all SEBT reaches tested over a 24-months period (Holden et al, 2016), while McCann and co-authors reported that older (20 years) had greater SEBT reach measures than younger (15 years) football players (McCann et al, 2017).…”

“…In a similar age group Holden and co-workers reported that 13-year-olds increased all SEBT reaches tested over a 24-months period (Holden et al, 2016), while McCann and co-authors reported that older (20 years) had greater SEBT reach measures than younger (15 years) football players (McCann et al, 2017). However, only one study reported effect sizes (Gonzalo-Skok et al, 2017), and these studies did not compare group differences to recommended MDC values (5–7cm; 6–8% of leg length) (Munro and Herrington, 2010). Comparisons to these MDC values would change the interpretation of findings in the aforementioned studies.…”

“…Comparisons to these MDC values would change the interpretation of findings in the aforementioned studies. Older basketball players would still have greater SEBT reaches (Gonzalo-Skok et al, 2017) whereas older football players would not (McCann et al, 2017) in comparison to their younger counterparts. In addition, the observed increase in SEBT reaches over a 24-months period would only apply to the posterolateral reach (Holden et al, 2016).…”

“…Sex has been found to have an equivocal effect on SEBT reach measures with no effect (Gribble and Hertel, 2003), greater reach measures in males than females (Gorman et al, 2012b; Holden et al, 2016), and vice versa (Gribble et al, 2009; Holden et al, 2016). In adolescents and young adults, the SEBT reaches were found to increase with age (Holden et al, 2016; Gonzalo-Skok et al, 2017; McCann et al, 2017).…”