Pre-Post Practice Changes in Countermovement Vertical Jump Force-Time Metrics in Professional Male Basketball Players

Abstract

Cabarkapa, D, Cabarkapa, DV, Philipp, NM, Knezevic, OM, Mirkov, DM, and Fry, AC. Pre-post practice changes in countermovement vertical jump force-time metrics in professional male basketball players. J Strength Cond Res 37(11): e609–e612, 2023—Despite the countermovement vertical jump (CVJ) being one of the most popular noninvasive and time-efficient methods for monitoring neuromuscular status, there is a lack of scientific literature focused on examining fatigue-induced alterations in performance in elite athletes. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine changes in force-time metrics pre-post practice in professional male basketball players. Seventeen athletes competing in first-tier and second-tier national basketball leagues in Europe participated in this study. While standing on a uniaxial force plate sampling at 1,000 Hz, each athlete completed 3 CVJs pre-practice and post-practice. The practice consisted of individual and team shooting drills, position-specific player development drills, 5-on-0 offensive actions, and 5-on-5 play, including full-court transition (∼2 hours). The findings reveal that pre-post practice changes in force-time metrics seem to be phase specific. Despite a trivial increase in eccentric mean force (920.4 ± 100.2, 929.4 ± 100.0 N), most changes were observed within the concentric phase of the CVJ. The concentric phase duration increased pre-post practice (0.233 ± 0.027, 0.242 ± 0.033 seconds), whereas concentric impulse (262.9 ± 18.8, 258.6 ± 21.6 N·s), peak velocity (2.93 ± 0.22, 2.86 ± 0.22 m·s−1), mean force (2052.4 ± 179.2, 2002.7 ± 188.2 N), mean power (3,165.5 ± 269.5, 3,030.9 ± 326.8 W), and peak power (5,523.4 ± 607.3, 5,246.6 ± 663.7 W) experienced a significant decrease. Moreover, alongside longer contraction time (0.663 ± 0.065, 0.686 ± 0.074 seconds), lower vertical jump height (41.0 ± 6.8, 38.9 ± 6.6 cm) and reactive strength index-modified (0.634 ± 0.113, 0.579 ± 0.111 m·s−1) values were observed post-practice. Overall, these findings may allow practitioners to detect fatigue-induced changes in CVJ force-time metrics in professional male basketball players that can ultimately improve the acute and longitudinal training-adaptation monitoring process.

Vertical jump neuromuscular performance of professional female handball players—starters vs. non-starters comparison

“…The selection of the dependent variables included in this investigation was based on previously published research reports that demonstrated adequate levels of validity and reliability ( 23 – 25 , 31 – 33 ). The force-time metrics examined within the eccentric phase of the CVJ were: braking phase duration and impulse, eccentric duration, peak velocity, and mean and peak force and power.…”

“…With rapid technological growth over the last decade, the countermovement vertical jump (CVJ) performed on portable force plate systems has become a gold-standard testing modality in an applied sports setting for the assessment of lower-body neuromuscular performance characteristics ( 23 – 26 ). It allows sports practitioners to obtain in-depth insight into multiple force-time metrics during both eccentric and concentric phases of the jumping motion with high levels of validity and reliability ( 25 – 27 ). Yet, despite jumping performance being one of the key physical performance attributes that handball players need to possess to proficiently perform sport-specific movements such as throwing and blocking ( 3 ), previous studies found no differences in jump height when examining elite and amateur male and female handball players ( 13 , 28 , 29 ).…”

Relationship between vertical jump performance and playing time and efficiency in professional male basketball players

“…Based on the on-court competitive demands, basketball players are required to possess adequate levels of lower-body strength and power, regardless of the playing position (4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9). Alongside tactical-technical comprehension and proficiency, these physical performance parameters are known to be of critical importance for successful participation in the game of basketball (10)(11)(12)(13).…”

“…When performed on portable force plate systems that allow rapid data analysis, a plethora of force-time metrics can be obtained with high levels of validity and reliability ( 16 , 20 ). This includes metrics within both the eccentric and concentric phases of the jumping movement, which offers a comprehensive movement analysis and avoids quantifying an athlete's performance based on a single variable (e.g., jump height) ( 12 , 18 , 19 ). For example, a series of recently published research reports examined changes in CVJ force-time metrics pre-post practice, differences between playing positions (e.g., guards, forwards, centers), and differences between starters and non-starters at the professional level of men's basketball competition ( 6 , 12 , 21 ).…”

“…This includes metrics within both the eccentric and concentric phases of the jumping movement, which offers a comprehensive movement analysis and avoids quantifying an athlete's performance based on a single variable (e.g., jump height) ( 12 , 18 , 19 ). For example, a series of recently published research reports examined changes in CVJ force-time metrics pre-post practice, differences between playing positions (e.g., guards, forwards, centers), and differences between starters and non-starters at the professional level of men's basketball competition ( 6 , 12 , 21 ). However, it should be noted that representing force-time metrics in both relative and absolute terms may be beneficial, as heavier athletes often demonstrate superior absolute force production simply due to greater body mass (i.e., force = mass × acceleration) ( 6 ).…”