Introduction: his study investigated the relationship between hip abductor strength (Abd), adductor strength (Add), straight accelerations and decelerations, and during changes of direction (COD 90°) performance in basketball players. Material and Methods: Fourteen basketball players participated (age = 23.6 ± 4.4 years, body mass = 86.3 ± 5.9 kg, body height = 192.3 ± 6.2 cm, training experience = 6.7 ± 2.6 years). Straight running results and running with a change of direction (COD 90°) have been described as the time (s) obtained for a given length. Following tests were carried out: maximum isometric strength test, 20-m linear sprint and 20-m COD sprint with 90° direction change angles. Following the warm-up, all athletes performed two maximal 20-m linear sprints, interspersed with 5 min rest intervals. Following the 20-m linear sprint test, the participants were provided with a 5 min rest interval before completing the COD tests. Additionally, the balance in isometric strength of the dominant and non-dominant hip Abd-Add muscles were evaluated. Two maximum attempts interspersed with one-minute rest intervals were performed. Results: The t-test revealed statistically significant higher absolute and relative isometric strength of AddR (adductor right) in comparison to AddL (adductor left). Conclusion: The results of this study show that the maximum isometric force and the relative strength of the abductor muscle group have a significant effect on changing direction running. Moreover, hip Abd and Add are typical for strength bilateral strength imbalances. Therefore, the evaluation and development of these qualities are essential for coaches to monitor and prescribe adequate training regimens.

The goal of this study was to compare the effects of a bilateral conditioning activity consisting of back squats and drop jumps with a unilateral one consisting of split squats and depth jumps to lateral hop over sequentially performed countermovement jump (CMJ), modified t-agility test (MAT), and Achilles tendon stiffness. Twenty-six basketball players participated in this study and were randomly and equally assigned to one of two different test groups: bilateral (B - CA) or unilateral (U - CA) conditioning activity group. The B - CA group completed 2 sets of 4 repetitions of back squats at 80% of one-repetition maximum (1RM), then 10 drop jumps, while the U - CA group performed 2 sets of 2 repetitions of split squats on each leg at 80%1RM, followed by 5 depth jumps to lateral hop on each leg as conditioning activity (CA) complexes. After a warm-up and 5 min before the CA the baseline Achilles tendon stiffness, CMJ, and MAT time measurement were performed. In the 6th min after the CA, all tests were re-tested in the same order. The two-way repeated measures mixed ANOVAs revealed that both B - CA and U - CA failed to produce significant improvements in CMJ and MAT performance. In addition, a significant increase in Achilles stiffness was demonstrated with both protocols (a main effect of time: p = 0.017; effect size = 0.47; medium). This study revealed that combining back squats and drop jumps, as well as split squats and depth jumps to a lateral hop, had no effect on subsequent CMJ and MAT performance in basketball players. Based on these results, it can be assumed that combinations of exercises, even if they have similar movement patterns, may cause excessive fatigue, resulting in no PAPE effect.