Drop jumps improve repeated sprint ability performances in professional basketball players

Abstract

To verify the acute effect of drop jumps (DJ) on two repeated sprint ability tests (RSA), interspersed with a rest period simulating a basketball game break. Twelve first division basketball players (age: 24.8 ± 6.9 years; body mass: 97.0 ± 9.2 kg; height: 2.0 ± 0.1 m) performed, in a randomized crossover design, two RSA tests separated by 5 min after DJ or control conditions. The DJ condition comprised 5 DJs performed 4 min prior to the first RSA test, whereas 3 DJ were completed 30 s prior to a second RSA test. Surface electromyography was recorded from the lower body for root mean square (RMS) analyses during sprinting. Three countermovement jump (CMJ) tests were performed after warming up and immediately after the second RSA test. DJ improved RSA performance with a faster best time in the first RSA test (p = 0.035), and a shorter total time and mean time (p = 0.030) for the second RSA test. No significant differences were found in RMS between protocols. CMJdecreased in both conditions after the RSA tests (p < 0.05). This study revealed a post-DJ RSA potentiation in professional male basketball players. This simple and effective approach could be implemented at the end of the warm-up and before the end of game breaks to improve player preparedness to compete.

Drop jumps versus sled towing and their effects on repeated sprint ability in young basketball players

“…rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis and gluteus maximus). These recent results are in agreement with another recent study by Zagatto et al [1], who measured the EMG signal during RSA sprints after drop jumps in professional basketball players but without changes in EMG Fig. 3 EMG activity of selected lower-limb muscles measured during repeat-sprint ability test, normalized by the first sprint values observed in control condition (n = 10).…”

“…A previous study has reported a correlation between RSA mean time, and distance covered during high intensity actions throughout matches [28]. In a recent study, Zagatto et al [1] investigated the PAPE effects of drop jumps (1 × 5 drop jumps before a first RSA testing, and 1 × 3 drop jumps before a second RSA) in professional basketball players, and also found a greater best time, total time, and mean time in both RSA tests after the drop jumps condition, thus corroborating the current findings. In the present study, a greater mean time, total time, and reduction on the slowest time after drop jumps was found.…”

“…Using the time until exhaustion during cycling at a supramaximal power output after control (157 ± 42 s) and the one preceded by drop jumps protocol (171 ± 44 s; de Poli et al 2020), the minimal required sample size of 9 participants was estimated. A basketball team was contacted and fifteen young male basketball players (the players were from the under 17 (n = 7) and 19 (n = 8) categories and had experience of competing at a national level) were recruited to participate in the current study after meeting the following inclusion criteria: (1) basketball training experience ≥ 4 years; (2) absence of recent (< 3 months) musculoskeletal and joint injuries; and (3) absence of recent (< 3 months) regular use of any ergogenic substance (e.g., creatine, beta-alanine). The exclusion criteria were: (1) suffering an injury during the period of investigation (n = 2); (2) not tolerate the assessment procedures (n = 1); and (3) withdraw from the team (n = 1).…”

“…Basketball is a team sport which consists of brief highintensity efforts with frequent changes of direction, interspersed with short recovery intervals [1][2][3][4]. These high-intensity actions during the match may induce a higher glycolytic pathway contribution with concomitant decrease of high-intensity demands (~ 16% decrement) during the second half of a match [5], which may be associated to a ~ 5% reduction in force production of the knee extensors [6].…”

“…In this context, there is recent evidence suggesting the effectiveness of sled towing on acceleration performance in recreationally trained adult males [17] and high school football players [18]. Meanwhile, it was revealed that drop jumps may be effective in improving repeated sprint ability (RSA) with changes of direction in adult basketball players [1]. However, it is unknown if heavy sled towing would be as effective as drop jumps, for enhancing peformance of repeated high-intensity efforts.…”