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PubMed2006

Aerobic-anaerobic profiles, heart rate and match analysis in old basketball players.

BACKGROUND: Scientific information on master competitions is mainly in individual sports and there is a lack of information on the senior team sport matches. OBJECTIVE: To provide aerobic and anaerobic profiles of senior (55 +/- 5 years) basketball players (n = 10), and to evaluate the physiological load and the match analysis of a senior basketball match. METHODS: Participants were administered a maximal oxygen consumption (VO(2 max)) and anaerobic tests (jump tests: counter movement jump (CMJ) and bounce jump (BJ), and running tests: 10-m sprint and running 10 m while bouncing the ball (10-m(BB))). During a senior basketball match, the players' heart rate (HR), electrocardiogram (ECG), blood lactate concentration (LA) and motor activities were recorded. RESULTS: The maximal aerobic test values were: HR(peak) 149 +/- 9 beats.min(-1); power 187 +/- 23 W; VO(2peak) 22.9 +/- 2.2 ml.kg(-1).min(-1); LA(peak) 8.3 +/- 1.9 mM. Jump test values were: CMJ = 24.9 +/- 6.5 cm and BJ = 20.5 +/- 4.75 cm. Running performances were: 10-m sprint in 2.26 +/- 0.18 s; 10-m(BB) in 2.34 +/- 0.14 s; 10-m(BB)/10-m sprint ratio 1.1 +/- 0.1. During the match, no adverse event or ST-segment changes or complex arrhythmias occurred. HR exceeded 85% of HR(peak) for 59 +/- 37%. LA values were 3.7 +/- 1.8 mM. Players spent 48% walking, 19% positioning, 17% running, 15% inactive, and 1% jumping. A limited number of fouls (2 +/- 1.5) was observed and players performed only 2-point shots. CONCLUSION: Older basketball players undergoing a training regimen of 1.5 h.week(-1) showed good anaerobic characteristics and a moderate aerobic capacity. Although the senior basketball match required high intensities (only 3% of total match time spent at HR <70% of HR(max)), the ECG Holter monitoring showed no adverse event, ST-segment changes or complex arrhythmias. Finally, their play did not include the technical skills recently introduced to basketball.

Anaerobic Threshold↗

PubMed2005

Ankle joint proprioception and postural control in basketball players with bilateral ankle sprains.

BACKGROUND: Deficiencies in ankle proprioception and standing balance in basketball players with multiple ankle sprains have been reported in separate studies. However, the question of how ankle proprioceptive inputs and postural control in stance are related is still unclear. HYPOTHESIS: Ankle repositioning errors and the amount of postural sway in stance are increased in basketball players with multiple ankle sprains. STUDY DESIGN: Controlled laboratory study. METHODS: Twenty healthy male basketball players and 19 male basketball players who had suffered bilateral ankle sprains within the past 2 years were examined. Both groups were similar in age. Passive ankle joint repositioning errors at 5 degrees of plantar flexion were used to test for ankle joint proprioception. The Sensory Organization Test was applied with dynamic posturography to assess postural sway angle under 6 sensory conditions. RESULTS: A significant increase in ankle repositioning errors was demonstrated in basketball players with bilateral ankle sprains (P < .05). The mean errors in the right and left ankles were increased from 1.0 degrees (standard deviation, 0.4 degrees ) and 0.8 degrees (standard deviation, 0.2 degrees ), respectively, in the healthy players to 1.4 degrees (standard deviation, 0.7 degrees ) and 1.1 degrees (standard deviation, 0.5 degrees ) in the injured group. A significant increase in the amount of postural sway in the injured subjects was also found in conditions 1, 2, and 5 of the Sensory Organization Test (P < .05). Furthermore, there were positive associations between averaged errors in repositioning both ankles and postural sway angles in conditions 1, 2, and 3 of the Sensory Organization Test (r = 0.39-0.54, P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Ankle repositioning errors and postural sway in stance increased in basketball players with multiple ankle sprains. A positive relationship was found between these 2 variables. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Such findings highlight the need for the rehabilitation of patients with multiple ankle sprains to include proprioceptive and balance training.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Two percent dehydration impairs and six percent carbohydrate drink improves boys basketball skills.

PURPOSE: To determine the effects of exercise heat-induced two percent dehydration (DEH) and euhydration (EUH) with a six percent carbohydrate-electrolyte solution (CES) compared with placebo EUH (P EUH) on basketball skills in skilled young players. METHODS: Fifteen 12- to 15-yr-old boys underwent three separate 2-h exercise heat exposures (double blind, random order): 2% DEH by limiting fluid intake during exercise in the heat and basketball skill drills, EUH (no net weight change) with a 6% CES, and EUH with a flavored water placebo (P EUH). After recovery, subjects performed an orchestrated sequence of continuous basketball drills designed to simulate a game (12-min quarters + a 10-min halftime). Performance measures and component drills inherent to basketball included various individual and combined shooting percentages (3-point, 15-foot, free-throw shots), sprint (suicides, court widths), lateral movement (zigzags, lane slides), and defensive drill (combining lateral and front-to-back movement) times. RESULTS: Compared with P EUH (53 +/- 11%), combined shooting percentage was impaired by 2% DEH (45 +/- 9%; P = 0.002) and improved by CES intake (60 +/- 8%; P = 0.003). Total sprint times showed a similar effect (83 +/- 10 vs 78 +/- 9 vs 76 +/- 9 s; DEH vs P EUH vs CES; P < 0.001 and P = 0.04, respectively). Total lateral movement times were impaired by 2% DEH (73 +/- 8 vs 68 +/- 8 s; P = 0.001). CES improved total defensive drill times compared with 2% DEH (77 +/- 10 vs 82 +/- 10; P = 0.006). CONCLUSION: Deterioration in basketball skill performance accompanies two percent dehydration in skilled 12- to 15-yr-old basketball players. Additionally, EUH with a 6% CES significantly improves shooting performance and on-court sprinting over EUH with water.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1996

Iron nutritional status in female karatekas, handball and basketball players, and runners.

The iron nutritional status was studied in 84 sportswomen (19 karatekas, 20 handball players, 20 basketball players, and 25 middle and long distance runners) and in 82 nonathletic females of similar characteristics (control group). After a 7-day nutritional survey by means of the food weighing method, it was found that iron intake was significantly higher in the handball players (p < 0.05), basketball players (p < 0.01), and runners (p < 0.01) with regard to the control group; the basketball players were the only ones to cover the recommended minimum intake (15 mg/day). The heme iron intake was significantly greater in the handball and basketball players (p < 0.01), who, together with the runners, reached the value of 1.5 mg/day, which is considered to be optimal. In relation to the control group, the karatekas and handball and basketball players had lower levels of serum ferritin, although their iron intake was greater, whereas the runners had higher values that were very similar to those of the control group, due to the iron supplementation they had received. Despite finding a marked prevalence of inadequate iron intake, both in the sportswomen and in the control group, the manifest cases of anemia are relatively scarce. The organic iron stores do not seem to depend exclusively on the iron intake but also on intimate mechanisms of intestinal absorption and diverse causes of iron loss.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The effects of basketball training on the maladaptive behaviors of trainable mentally retarded children.

The effects of basketball training on the maladaptive behaviors of 19 trainable mentally retarded children attending a special state school were investigated. Children in the experimental group took 7 weeks of basketball training (Special Olympics Inc.) designed for mentally retarded children, whereas the control group children engaged in free play activities with the ball. Both groups were assessed before the training and free play activity applications (preassessment), immediately after the applications (postassessment) and 30 days after the applications (follow-up assessment). All the children were observed (Classroom Behavior Checklist developed for this study) in their classroom during the academic tasks in which they were involved. Furthermore, their mothers were interviewed to get information about manifested maladaptive behaviors at home. To assess the children's level of improvement in basketball skills, the Sports Skills Assessment was utilized. Children trained in basketball skills showed a reduction in their level of maladaptive behavior both at home and in the school. This reduction was maintained in the follow-up period. Thus, basketball training can be proposed as an effective and practical rehabilitation program for trainable mentally retarded children attending an institution.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1997

Injuries of young elite female basketball players over a six-year period.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze injuries retrospectively among female basketball players at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) from 1990 to 1995 inclusive. DESIGN: The medical records of all the female basketball players on AIS (residential) scholarships were examined, and all injuries were recorded. SETTING: The Sports Medicine Department at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra, Australia. PARTICIPANTS: The participants were 49 elite female basketball players, holding full scholarships at the AIS, with an average age of 17.6 years at the time of injury presentation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Injury presentation according to region involved, nature of injury, and most common specific injuries (diagnoses). RESULTS: A total of 223 injuries were recorded: 139 were acute and 84 were chronic. The regions most frequently injured were the knee (18.8%), ankle (16.6%), lumbar spine (11.7%), and lower legs (10.8%). The most frequent diagnoses were ankle lateral ligament sprain (12.1%), patellar tendinitis (6.7%), lower limb stress fractures (5.4%), finger sprains (4.9%), and mechanical low back pain (4.5%). CONCLUSIONS: There was a high incidence of knee and ankle injury in this group of young elite female basketball players, and stress fractures were not uncommon. The incidence of injury in female basketball players may be increasing. Further research in this area may help reduce the risk of stress fractures and serious ankle and knee injuries.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Playing ice hockey and basketball increases serum levels of S-100B in elite players: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate changes in serum concentrations of the biochemical markers of brain damage S-100B and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) in ice hockey and basketball players during games. DESIGN: Descriptive clinical research. SETTING: Competitive games of the Swedish Elite Ice Hockey League and the Swedish Elite Basketball League. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-six male ice hockey players (from two teams) and 18 basketball players (from two teams). INTERVENTIONS: None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: S-100B and NSE were analyzed using two-site immunoluminometric assays. The numbers of acceleration/deceleration events were assessed from videotape recordings of the games. Head trauma-related symptoms were monitored 24 hours after the game using the Rivermead Post Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire. RESULTS: Changes in serum concentrations of S-100B (postgame - pregame values) were statistically significant after both games (ice hockey, 0.072 +/- 0.108 microg/L, P = 0.00004; basketball, 0.076 +/- 0.091 microg/L, P = 0.001). In basketball, there was a significant correlation between the change in S-100B (postgame-pregame values) and jumps, which were the most frequent acceleration/deceleration (r = 0.706, P = 0.002). For NSE, no statistically significant change in serum concentration was found in either game. For one ice hockey player who experienced concussion during play, S-100B was increased more than for the other players. CONCLUSIONS: S-100B was released into the blood of the players as a consequence of game-related activities and events. Analysis of the biochemical brain damage markers (in particular S-100B) seems to have the potential to become a valuable additional tool for assessment of the degree of brain tissue damage in sport-related head trauma and probably for decision making about returning to play.

Acceleration↗

PubMed2005

Intercondylar notch stenosis is not a risk factor for anterior cruciate ligament tears in professional male basketball players: an 11-year prospective study.

BACKGROUND: The value of femoral notch size and the notch width index in predicting anterior cruciate ligament injury has been debated. This study examined the relationship between the notch width index and anterior cruciate ligament injury in professional basketball players. HYPOTHESIS: No significant difference exists between the notch width index of anterior cruciate ligament-injured and noninjured professional basketball players. STUDY DESIGN: Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: Using a notch view radiograph, the authors prospectively measured the femoral notch and the condylar widths and then calculated the notch width index of 615 male athletes who participated in the National Basketball Association's combine workouts between 1992 and 1999. Players who participated in at least 1 professional game were included. After an 11-year follow-up period, the National Basketball Association's leaguewide injury database was reviewed to identify injured players. The players were then categorized into anterior cruciate ligament-injured or noninjured groups. Notch width, condylar width, and notch width index were compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS: A total of 305 players were followed for a period of up to 11 years. Anterior cruciate ligament trauma was suffered by 14 (4.6%) of the subjects. The average notch width index was 0.235 +/- 0.031 for anterior cruciate ligament-injured players and 0.242 +/- 0.041 for noninjured players (t305=-0.623, P=.534). This difference was not significantly different. Two (3.9%) of the subjects with critical notch stenosis (notch width index 0.20) had noncontact anterior cruciate ligament injuries. CONCLUSIONS: The notch width index did not predict the rate of anterior cruciate ligament injury. A level of critical notch stenosis was not detected. Anterior cruciate ligament injury could not be predicted by the absolute measurement of the femoral inter-condylar notch. Use of a preparticipation notch view radiograph in male professional basketball players as a predictor of anterior cruciate ligament injury is not recommended.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

The anterior cruciate ligament tear rate varies by race in professional Women's basketball.

BACKGROUND: Female basketball players are more likely to tear their anterior cruciate ligament than are their male counterparts. Many causes are postulated for the difference observed in the rate of anterior cruciate ligament tears between genders. However, little is known about the differences in tears within gender. HYPOTHESIS: The rate of anterior cruciate ligament tears is different in White European American female basketball players and non-White European American players. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study (Prevalence); Level of evidence, 2. METHODS: The authors investigated the differences in anterior cruciate ligament tears by risk exposure in women of different racial or ethnic backgrounds playing in the Women's National Basketball Association for the 1999 through 2003 seasons. Using the injury surveillance data from the Women's National Basketball Association, the authors compared anterior cruciate ligament injuries in White European American and non-White European American players to determine differences in the rate of anterior cruciate ligament tears between racial groups. RESULTS: The anterior cruciate ligament tear rate for White European American players was 0.45 per 1000 athletic exposures, whereas for non-White European American players (black or African American, Hispanic, and Asian players) the rate was 0.07. The odds ratio of anterior cruciate ligament tears in White European American versus non-White European American players was 6.55 (95% confidence interval, 1.35-31.73). CONCLUSION: Our retrospective study shows that the anterior cruciate ligament tear rate for White European American players was 0.45 per 1000 athletic exposures, whereas tear rates in the Women's National Basketball Association vary by racial group, with White European American players having more than 6 times the anterior cruciate ligament tear rate of other ethnic groups combined. Further prospective studies of athletes are needed to validate this finding and shed light on possible reasons.

Black or African American↗

PubMed2002

MR imaging of the knee: findings in asymptomatic collegiate basketball players.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of our study was to evaluate the knees of asymptomatic high-level collegiate basketball players before the beginning of the basketball season to gain an understanding of nonclinical findings in this patient population. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Bilateral knee MR imaging examinations of 17 varsity basketball players (12 men and five women) were performed before basketball season began. All of the subjects were imaged on a 1.5-T magnet. The MR imaging studies were reviewed by two musculoskeletal radiologists. Structures analyzed were the menisci, ligaments, cartilage, plicae, and bone marrow. The presence of a joint effusion was also noted. RESULTS: Fourteen (41%) of the 34 knees had bone marrow edema, eight (24%) showed signal in the patellar tendon, and 14 (41%) had abnormal cartilage signal or a focal abnormality. Twelve (35%) of the 34 knees showed a joint effusion. Two knees (6%) showed abnormal signal along the infrapatellar plica. Four knees (12%) were noted to have a discoid meniscus. CONCLUSION: An MR examination of the knees of high-level collegiate basketball players may show changes unique to this population. The changes seen on MR imaging in these athletes may be asymptomatic abnormalities. For instance, changes suggestive of patellar tendinopathy were identified in these asymptomatic subjects.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Recognition accuracy by experienced men and women players of basketball.

This study examined 30 experienced basketball players' recognition accuracy by sex, playing position (guard, forward, and center), and situations in the game of basketball. The study used a perceptual cognitive paradigm in which subjects viewed slides of structured and unstructured game situations and accurately recognized the presence or absence of the basketball. A significant difference in recognition accuracy by sex, players' position, and structure of the game situation was found. Male players' recognition accuracy was better than the female players'. The recognition accuracy of subjects who played guard was better than that of subjects who played forward or center. The players' recognition accuracy was more accurate when observing structured plays versus unstructured plays. The conclusion of this study suggested that experienced basketball players differ in their cognitive and visual searching processes by sex and player position within the sport of basketball.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Star Excursion Balance Test as a predictor of lower extremity injury in high school basketball players.

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cohort. OBJECTIVE: To determine if Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) reach distance was associated with risk of lower extremity injury among high school basketball players. BACKGROUND: Although balance has been proposed as a risk factor for sports-related injury, few researchers have used a dynamic balance test to examine this relationship. METHODS AND MEASURES: Prior to the 2004 basketball season, the anterior, posteromedial, and posterolateral SEBT reach distances and limb lengths of 235 high school basketball players were measured bilaterally. The Athletic Health Care System Daily Injury Report was used to document time loss injuries. After normalizing for lower limb length, each reach distance, right/left reach distance difference, and composite reach distance were examined using odds ratio and logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: The reliability of the SEBT components ranged from 0.82 to 0.87 (ICC3,1) and was 0.99 for the measurement of limb length. Logistic regression models indicated that players with an anterior right/left reach distance difference greater than 4 cm were 2.5 times more likely to sustain a lower extremity injury (P<.05). Girls with a composite reach distance less than 94.0% of their limb length were 6.5 times more likely to have a lower extremity injury (P<.05). CONCLUSIONS: We found components of the SEBT to be reliable and predictive measures of lower extremity injury in high school basketball players. Our results suggest that the SEBT can be incorporated into preparticipation physical examinations to identify basketball players who are at increased risk for injury.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1999

An examination of mood changes and performance in a professional basketball team.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the Profile of Mood States (POMS) and performance in a professional basketball team. METHODS PARTICIPANTS: seven male professional basketball players playing for the defending champions of the Israel Basketball League participated in this study. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: the POMS was administered seven times (T1-T7) during the season. The initial POMS administration was performed three weeks following the start of preseason practice and one day prior to the first basketball game. Each of the other POMS administrations were performed two days following a game and no more than 2 days before the next game. RESULTS: Typical iceberg profiles were observed during T1, T2 and T3, which coincided with successful performance (winning percentages greater than 60% between each POMS administration). Subsequent decreases in performance between T3 and T4 (a 33% winning percentage) resulted in a decrease in vigor and an increase in anger. As team performance improved between T4 and T5 (winning percentage again above 60%), vigor returned to its original level. However, the mood states anger and depression remained elevated, even during successful team play. This may have been related to problems independent of basketball performance (coaching and financial). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the mood state vigor may be reflective of team performance. In addition, mood states appear to be influenced more by performance or experience, rather than performance being influenced by changes in mood states.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Effects of developmental training of basketball cadets realised in the competitive period.

The analysis of effects of a two-month developmental training cycle realised within a basketball season revealed statistically significant positive changes at the multivariate level in components of motor-functional conditioning (fitness) status of the sample of talented basketball cadets (15-16 years). The greatest correlations with discriminant function were found in variables with statistically significant changes at the univariate level, more explicitly in variables of explosive and repetitive power of the upper body and trunk, anaerobic lactic endurance, as well as in jumping type explosive leg power. The presented developmental conditioning training programme, although implemented within the competitive period, induced multiple positive fitness effects between the two control time points in this sample of basketball players. The authors suggest that, to assess power of shoulders and upper back, the test overgrip pull-up should not be applied to basketball players of this age due to its poor sensitivity. Instead, they propose the undergrip pull-up test, which is a facilitated version of the same test. The results presented in this article reinforce experienced opinion of experts that, in the training process with youth teams, the developmental conditioning training programme is effectively applicable throughout the entire competitive season. The proposed training model is a system of various training procedures, operating synergistically, aimed at enhancing integral fitness (preparedness) of basketball players. Further investigations should be focused on assessing effects of both the proposed and other developmental training cycle programmes, by means of assessing and monitoring actual quality (overall performance) of players, on the one hand, and, on the other, by following-up hormonal and biochemical changes over multiple time points.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

The sole arch indices of adolescent basketball players.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to find out the difference between sole arch indices of adolescent basketball players and an age matched non-athletic group. METHODS: This study was carried out in the Sports Education, Health and Research Center, Ankara, Turkey, between November 1998 and December 1998. In junior (16-18 years) categories 48 male basketball players and 45 age matched controls were included in the study. Body mass index and podoscopic sole images of subjects were recorded, and the arch index was calculated for each group. RESULTS: The sole arch index has no difference between basketball players and controls. The right foot arch index of the control group was 59.62 +/- 23.26 and 56.74 +/- 17.21 in players (p=0.497). The left foot arch index was 54.54 +/- 23.72 in control groups and 55.13 +/- 17.33 in players (p=0.890). There was a significant negative correlation between sole arch index and training age in basketball players (r=-0.3312 for right sole arch index, p value is less than 0.05; r=-0.3056 for left sole arch index, p less than 0.05). CONCLUSION: These results have shown that basketball might result in specific adaptation on sole arches of adolescent players.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

PubMed1997

Ankle injuries and ankle strength, flexibility, and proprioception in college basketball players.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if ankle muscular strength, flexibility and proprioception can predict ankle injury in college basketball players and to compare ankle injury rates in female and male players. DESIGN AND SETTING: In this prospective, correlational study, subjects were tested at the start of the competitive season for ankle joint muscle strength, flexibility, and proprioception. The first ankle injury for each subject was recorded on an injury report form, and the data were analyzed to determine if any of these preseason measurements predicted future injury. The setting was a competitive 9-week season for four women's and four men's college basketball teams. SUBJECTS: A convenience sample of 31 female and 11 male college basketball players. MEASUREMENTS: Subjects were tested for ankle dorsiflexion range of motion, various measures of ankle proprioception, and isokinetic peak torque of ankle dorsiflexion-plantar flexion and eversion-inversion at 30 degrees /sec and 180 degrees /sec before the start of the conference basketball seasons. Data were analyzed using a series of multiple regression equations to determine the variance in ankle injury attributed to each variable. RESULTS: Various measures of proprioception predicted left ankle injury in all subjects (p < .05), while ankle strength and flexibility measures failed to account for additional variance. There was no statistically significant difference in ankle injury rate between women and men. CONCLUSIONS: Ankle joint proprioceptive deficits can be used to predict ankle injury, but further research is needed to identify other sources of variance. In our study, ankle injury rate was similar in female and male college basketball players.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1998

The Use of Alcohol Among NCAA Division I Female College Basketball, Softball, and Volleyball Athletes.

OBJECTIVE: To identify and describe alcohol use among NCAA Division I female college basketball, softball, and volleyball players and to determine to what extent the players have been exposed to alcohol or other drug education programs. DESIGN AND SETTING: Mailed self-reporting questionnaire, sample of convenience. The study was conducted in the Department of Physical Education at the University of South Carolina. SUBJECTS: NCAA Division I athletic trainers of ten female basketball teams, ten female softball teams, and eleven female volleyball teams received questionnaires. A total of 371 participants returned questionnaires: 106 basketball players, 138 softball players, and 127 volleyball players. MEASUREMENTS: After reviewing the related literature, I developed a questionnaire and pilot tested it with a group of female swimmers and track and field athletes. The questionnaire consisted of three sections: demographic information, alcohol use, and alcohol education. I analyzed the questionnaires descriptively (frequencies, percentages, and means) and collectively, on the total population, and separately, on all teams. To validate and further understand information gained from the questionnaires, I conducted multiple face-to-face interviews with forty (11%) of the participants. RESULTS: Almost 79% of the subjects consumed alcohol, with light beers being the most popular beverage. Most started using alcohol before 18 years of age. More softball (89.1%) and volleyball (88.9%) athletes reported drinking than did basketball (63.2%) athletes. Quantity and frequency of alcohol use decreased during the competitive sport season but increased out of season. Almost 60% (55.9%) of the participants engaged in binge drinking (defined as four or more drinks per drinking episode) out of season and 35% in season. Female athletes who lived off campus drank more frequently than those who lived in residence halls, but athletes living in residence halls reported drinking in larger quantities. The most common reasons subjects chose not to use alcohol included the effects alcohol has on health and sports performance, coaches' rules, dislike of the taste of alcohol, and concerns about weight gain. Those who chose to use alcohol did so mostly for social purposes. Most subjects received 4 to 8 hours of alcohol education in lecture sessions during their college careers. The majority wanted additional education, especially with regard to the effects of alcohol on sports performance. CONCLUSIONS: Based upon the results of this study, alcohol education has little impact on alcohol use among NCAA Division I female basketball, softball, and volleyball players, particularly out of season. Most choose to use alcohol simply to have fun. Because alcohol affects athletic performance, female athletes tend to use less alcohol in season. Future studies should address the types of alcohol prevention and intervention methods used during out-of-season and in-season periods. Correlation studies should investigate relationships between these programs and alcohol use among female athletes. A broader population of athletes from various sports (eg, field hockey, golf, gymnastics, tennis, soccer, and swimming) should also be investigated.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1998

Anthropometric and performance measures for high school basketball players.

OBJECTIVE: To determine possible anthropometric and performance sex differences in a population of high school basketball players. DESIGN AND SETTING: Measurements were collected during the first week of basketball practice before the 1995-1996 season. Varsity basketball players from 4 high schools were tested on a battery of measures chosen to detect possible anthropometric and performance sex differences. SUBJECTS: Fifty-four female and sixty-one male subjects, from varsity basketball teams at high schools enrolled in the athletic training outreach program at the University of Wisconsin Hospital Sports Medicine Center in Madison, WI, volunteered to take part in this study. MEASUREMENTS: We took anthropometric measurements on each of the 115 subjects. These included height, weight, body composition, ankle range of motion, and medial longitudinal arch type in weightbearing. Performance measures included the vertical jump, 22.86-m (25-yd) shuttle run, 18.29-m (20-yd) sprint, and single-limb balance time. RESULTS: We compared anthropometric and performance characteristics using a 2-sample t test. The only exception to this was for medial longitudinal arch type, where the 2 groups were compared using a 2-tailed Fisher's exact test. The male subjects were significantly taller and heavier, while the females had a significantly higher percentage of body fat. There were no significant differences found for ankle plantar flexion and dorsiflexion, but the females had significantly more inversion and eversion range of motion. Analysis of medial longitudinal arch type found females to have a higher percentage of pronated arches and males to have a higher percentage of supinated arches. Performance testing revealed that the males were able to jump significantly higher and run the 22.86-m (25-yard) shuttle run and 18.29-m (20-yard) sprint significantly faster than the female subjects. There was no significant difference between the groups for single-limb balance time. CONCLUSIONS: We found significant anthropometric and performance sex differences in a cohort of high school basketball players. Further study of these measures is necessary to determine if these differences can predict the risk for ankle injuries in this particular population.

Journal Article↗