Lower Extremity Flexibility Profile in Basketball Players: Gender Differences and Injury Risk Identification

Abstract

Analysis of the flexibility profile of basketball players (BPs) can reveal differences in range of motion (ROM) by gender and also identify those players who are at higher risk for sports injuries. A descriptive observational study was conducted to determine the lower extremity flexibility profile of sixty-four basketball players and gender differences to identify players at higher risk of injury due to limited and asymmetric ROM in one or more movements. Participants: Sixty-four (33 male and 31 female) competitive athletes from the national leagues of the Spanish basketball league system participated in the present study (power of sample size ≥0.99). The eight passive ROM tests of the hip, knee and ankle were assessed using the ROM-SPORT battery. Each player completed a questionnaire on age, basic anthropometric data, dominant extremities, and training and sport-related variables. The lower extremity flexibility profile was established at 15° and 10° hip extension (HE), 39° and 38° ankle dorsiflexion with knee extended (ADF-KE), 40° and 39° ankle dorsiflexion with knee flexed (ADF-KF), 43° and 43° hip abduction (HAB), 75° and 61° hip abduction with the hip flexed (HAB-HF), 78° and 83° hip flexion with the knee extended (HF-KE), 134° and 120° knee flexion (KF), and 145° and 144° hip flexion (HF) by male and female basketball players, respectively. Sex differences in HE, HAB-HF, and KF were observed in BPs (p ≤ 0.01; Hedges’ g ≥ 1.04). Players reported limited ROM in ADF-KF, HE, HAB-HF, HF-KE, and KF; and asymmetric ROM mainly in HE, ADF-KE, KF, ADF-KF, and HF-KE. In conclusion, this study provides gender-specific lower extremity flexibility profile scores in BPs that can help athletic trainers and athletic and conditioning trainers to identify those players who are at higher risk of injury due to abnormal ROM scores.

The Effect of Hamstring Shortness on Vertical Jump and Balance Performance in Youth Basketball Players

“…Based on the available data, con icting results have been reported regarding the relationship between hamstring exibility and balance. Asan et al found a particularly positive correlation between balance and exibility averages, especially when the left foot was the balance foot in soccer players [24]. Similarly, in our study, we also identi ed a correlation between balance on the left foot and hamstring exibility.…”

The effects of functional training on physical fitness and skill-related performance among basketball players: a systematic review

“…A greater range of motion can lead to more efficient and effective movements on the court ( Woolstenhulme et al, 2006 ; Notarnicola et al, 2017 ). Good flexibility also can help reduce the risk of injuries ( Cejudo, 2021 ). The results showed a significant improvement in flexibility after FT. Two studies did not detail the FT program implemented ( Lukose, 2018 ; Shang et al, 2023 ), making it difficult to explain how the intervention might have improved flexibility.…”

Relationship of Vertical Jump Performance and Ankle Joint Range of Motion: Effect of Knee Joint Angle and Handedness in Young Adult Handball Players

“…In general, no inter-limb ankle ROM differences have been reported in populations of various sports background [8,[26][27][28][29][30][31]. This can be attributed to the fact that scientific evidence and recommendations aid in the design of training programs aiming to maintain symmetry in joint mobility [55][56][57] since it is widely acknowledged that decreased ROM is associated with sports injuries [58].…”