Muscular Strength Spurts in Adolescent Male Basketball Players: The INEX Study

Abstract

Although successful performance in basketball requires high levels of muscular strength during adolescence, its development is confounded by the effects of normal growth. We examine the timing, intensity and sequence of muscular strength according to biological age (years from peak height velocity (PHV)) and hypothesize that young basketball players attain their peak muscular strength spurts around PHV. A total of 160 adolescent male basketballers, aged 11–15 years, were followed bi-annually over 3 consecutive years. The years from attainment of PHV and peak weight velocity (PWV) were estimated and five muscular strength measures (sit-ups, handgrip, seated medicine ball throw, squat jump and countermovement jump) were aligned to years from PHV in 3-month intervals. Strength velocities were estimated using a non-smooth mathematical model. The mean ages at-PHV and at-PWV were 13.90 ± 1.40 years and 13.90 ± 1.79 years, respectively. Maximal velocity in sit-ups was attained 6 months prior to attainment of PHV (intensity = 10.69 repetitions·year−1), whereas maximal velocity in squat jump occurred 6 months after-PHV (intensity = 3.93 cm·year−1). Handgrip strength, seated medicine ball throw and countermovement jump maximal velocity peaked at-PHV (intensity = 8.47 kgf·year−1, intensity = 0.75 m·year−1, intensity = 5.59 cm·year−1, respectively). In general, maximal velocity spurts did not differ in their timing, with the velocities reaching a peak concurrent with PHV and PWV or within 6 months of its attainment. Basketball coaches, as well as strength and conditioning trainers, should consider individual differences in strength development and be aware of rapid periods of growth in stature when planning and designing muscular strength training regimes.

Effects of age and sex on association between toe muscular strength and vertical jump performance in adolescent populations

“…It has been well known that the development of sport performance at the growth stage is different between boys and girls. In general, the appearance of peak height velocity is earlier in girls than boys (approximately 11 years for girls, and 12-14 years for boys, [21][22][23]), and the muscular strength and motor performance levels are higher in boys than girls after peak height velocity [24,25]. The muscle force in the knee and ankle linearly increases from early childhood [9], and the strength is greater in boys compared to girls during childhood and adolescence [8,9].…”

Physical-motor indicators and specific skills of young basketball players after periodization training

“…Furthermore, young people experience periods of rapid growth that represent large windows of opportunity to improve their physical condition. If the workloads are applied at the right time, training adaptations within these sensitive periods can be optimized 26 .…”

Modelling the dynamics of change in the technical skills of young basketball players: The INEX study

“…In addition, non-linear trajectories have been reported in a composite skill score aggregating ball control, dribbling speed, shooting accuracy and passing [ 38 ], and in the slalom sprint and slalom dribble tests in soccer players [ 39 ]. These findings can be explained in part by, at least, five factors: (1) the “adolescent awkwardness”, a phenomenon of disruption of motor coordination causing an apparent plateau in performance in late adolescence [ 40 ]; (2) skill-related physical performance peak spurts occurring coincidently with peak height velocity or within 6 months of its attainment, that is, around 14 years of age in boys [ 41 , 42 ]; (3) changes in body size and composition during puberty affecting technical development; (4) greater investment by basketball coaches in tactical strategies from under-16/under-18 age-categories onwards, accompanied by a reduction of training time exclusively dedicated to enhancing technical skills [ 1 ]; and (5) limited progression from a certain high-level of proficiency due to time and space restrictions of the testing protocols.…”