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Analysis of Bioenergetics and Fatigue Responses in Basketball (TEAM)

sTudy of the bioEnergetics and fAtigue Responses of a Basketball gaMe: The TEAM Trial

Status
Recruiting
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT07250555
Acronym
TEAM
Enrollment
30
Registered
2025-11-26
Start date
2025-05-30
Completion date
2026-02-28
Last updated
2025-11-26

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Metabolic Stress

Keywords

basketball, performance, blood metabolites, skeletal muscle metabolism

Brief summary

The aims of the study are: 1. To examine skeletal muscle and blood metabolites during an official basketball game and to relate those to skeletal muscle performance during and after the game. 2. To investigate whether skeletal muscle and blood metabolites are related to game-induced fatigue. 3. To relate field activity during a basketball game with the responses of skeletal muscle and blood metabolites. 4. To investigate how blood lactate reflects muscle lactate concentration during a basketball game. 5. To determine whether temporary fatigue develops during a basketball game. game.

Detailed description

The basketball players will participate in three experimental games (N = 10/game) on an indoors basketball stadium. During a 2-week familiarization period, volunteers will be familiarized with the experimental procedures and participate in very light training (at local basketball facilities) aimed at developing match tactics and team cohesion. At the end of the familiarization period and before the experimental game, participants will undergo a 3-day baseline performance testing (resting conditions) at University (Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Thessaly) facilities. Prior to the games, the players will refrain from strenuous exercise and intake of alcohol for 48 hours and from tobacco and caffeine for 12 h. Dietary intake will be monitored with daily diet recalls for 7 days before the experimental period and will be standardized for all participants by a registered dietitian. The dietitian will also prescribe the meals and snacks on the game-day. On the day of the game, participants will arrive at the stadium 1.5 h before for resting skeletal muscle and blood sampling. For the first muscle biopsy and in preparation for later obtainment of biopsies from vastus lateralis muscle. An incision will be made under local anesthesia (20 mg/ml xylocaine without adrenalin) and covered by sterile band-aid strips and a thigh and shoulder bandages. In addition, an inertial measurement unit (IMU) and a heart rate monitor will be placed on each subject. During the match, a number of physiological measurements will be performed at fixed times (before the game, at half-time and post-match) and after intense exercise periods within the four 10-min periods of the game. Volunteers will be randomly assigned, using the sealed envelope procedure, in six teams representing all field positions and each team will play in one of three experimental games (random allocation using standard procedures) against each other in a full 40-minute game according to official regulations. A total of 10 additional players (from various playing positions) will serve as substitute players that could enter the pitch for a few minutes when a player will have to leave the court (either participate in measurements or will have completed it's pre-determined playing time or in case of an injury). Fifteen players (pre/post game measurement group) will have muscle and blood samples taken at rest, at the end of the 2nd period (half-time) and at the end of the 4th period (end of game). A second group of eight players (intense periods measurement group 1) will have muscle and blood samples collected at rest and during the first and third period of the game (immediately after an intense period of game-play). A third group of seven players (intense periods measurement group 1) will have muscle and blood samples collected at rest and during the second and fourth period of the game (immediately after an intense period of game-play). An intense exercise period of game-play is identified as a period with a heart rate of \> 90% of maximal \[as assessed by the maximal heart rate obtained during a graded exercise test to measure the maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max)\], a high number of high-intensity runs (speed of \> 18 km/h), sprints (speed of \> 25 km/h) and/or jumps evaluated by a professional licensed coach. All muscle biopsies will be sampled from the vastus lateralis. All players will have their field activity and heart rate measured throughout the game using IMU units and heart rate monitors. Games will start at 17.00 - 18 p.m. to avoid diurnal variations and will be held under normal environmental conditions. A standardized 30-min warm-up period will be performed before each game. All games will be videotaped.

Interventions

OTHERBASKETBALL GAME

Participants will arrive 1.5 hours pre-game for initial vastus lateralis muscle biopsies and blood sampling under local anesthesia (20 mg/ml xylocaine without adrenalin). They will be fitted with IMU sensors and heart rate monitors. Volunteers are randomly assigned to teams(6 teams) for a full 40-minute game. During the match, physiological measurements will be performed at fixed times (pre, at half-time, and post-match) and after intense exercise periods (HR\>90% max, high-speed runs\>18km/h) within the four 10-min periods. Three groups provide samples: Group 1 (n=15): rest, half-time, end-game. Group 2 (n=8): rest, post-intense period in 1st/3rd periods. Group 3 (n=7): rest, post-intense period in 2nd/4th periods. Ten players serve as substitutes. Games will start at 17.00 - 18 p.m. to avoid diurnal variations and will be held under normal environmental conditions. A standardized 30-min warm-up period will be performed before each game.

Sponsors

University of Southern Denmark
CollaboratorOTHER
Democritus University of Thrace
CollaboratorOTHER
University of Thessaly
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
MALE
Age
18 Years to 30 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* Health status: were free of recent musculoskeletal injuries and/or illnesses (≥ 8 months before the study). * Not consuming ergogenic supplements/medications (≥ 6 months before the study) * Not smokers

Exclusion criteria

* Completion of the pre-determined participation time during the experimental game. * Completion of all field measurements. * Completion of all pre-determined sampling points for biological tissue.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Measurement of countermovement jump heightChange from baseline to the: a. 20th minute (half-time) and 40th minute (end of the game) (N=10), b. 5th minute (mid-1st period) and 25th minute (mid-3rd period) (N=10) and c. 15th minute (mid-2nd period) and 35th minute (mid-4th period) (N=10).Will be measured using a force platform system
Bilateral strength peak force and rate of force development on mid-thigh pullChange from baseline to the: a. 20th minute (half-time) and 40th minute (end of the game) (N=10), b. 5th minute (mid-1st period) and 25th minute (mid-3rd period) (N=10) and c. 15th minute (mid-2nd period) and 35th minute (mid-4th period) (N=10).Will be measured using a dynamometer.
Measurement of maximal sprinting speed over 5 metersChange from baseline to the: a. 20th minute (half-time) and 40th minute (end of the game) (N=10), b. 5th minute (mid-1st period) and 25th minute (mid-3rd period) (N=10) and c. 15th minute (mid-2nd period) and 35th minute (mid-4th period) (N=10).5-m sprinting speed will be assessed on the basketball court using infrared photocells
Measurement of maximal sprinting speed over 20 metersChange from baseline to the: a. 20th minute (half-time) and 40th minute (end of the game) (N=10), b. 5th minute (mid-1st period) and 25th minute (mid-3rd period) (N=10) and c. 15th minute (mid-2nd period) and 35th minute (mid-4th period) (N=10).20-m sprinting speed will be assessed on the basketball court using infrared photocells
Measurement of the capacity to perform repeated sprintsChange from baseline to the: a. 20th minute (half-time) and 40th minute (end of the game) (N=10), b. 5th minute (mid-1st period) and 25th minute (mid-3rd period) (N=10) and c. 15th minute (mid-2nd period) and 35th minute (mid-4th period) (N=10).5 x 20m repeated maximal sprints will be performed with 25 sec rest in between. Speed will be recorded using infrared photocells
Measurement of field activity variables during the basketball gameContinuous monitoring during each 40-minute game.Field activity will be continuously recorded during the basketball game using a microsensor inertial measurement unit (Kinexon Perform IMU).
Measurement of heart rate during the basketball game ad recording the average and maximal heart rate of the game.Continuous monitoring during each 40-minute game.Field activity will be continuously recorded during the basketball game using a Team Polar Pro heart rate monitor.
Measurement of skeletal muscle glycogen contentChange from baseline to the: a. 20th minute (half-time) and 40th minute (end of the game) (N=10), b. 5th minute (mid-1st period) and 25th minute (mid-3rd period) (N=10) and c. 15th minute (mid-2nd period) and 35th minute (mid-4th period) (N=10).Will be assessed on muscle biopsy samples. Muscle glycogen content will be determined spectrophotometrically.
Measurement of skeletal muscle fiber-type distribution and fiber-type- specific glycogen content.Change from baseline to the: a. 20th minute (half-time) and 40th minute (end of the game) (N=10), b. 5th minute (mid-1st period) and 25th minute (mid-3rd period) (N=10) and c. 15th minute (mid-2nd period) and 35th minute (mid-4th period) (N=10).Will be assessed on muscle biopsy samples by histochemical analysis
Measurement of skeletal muscle phosphocreatine levelsChange from baseline to the: a. 20th minute (half-time) and 40th minute (end of the game) (N=10), b. 5th minute (mid-1st period) and 25th minute (mid-3rd period) (N=10) and c. 15th minute (mid-2nd period) and 35th minute (mid-4th period) (N=10).Will be assessed on muscle biopsy samples by a flurometric assay.
Measurement of skeletal muscle lactateChange from baseline to the: a. 20th minute (half-time) and 40th minute (end of the game) (N=10), b. 5th minute (mid-1st period) and 25th minute (mid-3rd period) (N=10) and c. 15th minute (mid-2nd period) and 35th minute (mid-4th period) (N=10).Will be assessed on muscle biopsy samples by a flurometric assay.
Measurement of effort and fatigueChange from baseline to the: a. 20th minute (half-time) and 40th minute (end of the game) (N=10), b. 5th minute (mid-1st period) and 25th minute (mid-3rd period) (N=10) and c. 15th minute (mid-2nd period) and 35th minute (mid-4th period) (N=10).Will be measured by using the Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) scale

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Basketball-specific conditioning (endurance)At baselineYo-Yo intermittent endurance test 1
Basketball-specific conditioning (recovery)At baselineYo-Yo intermittent recovery test 1
Concentric and eccentric isokinetic peak torque of knee extensors and flexors of both dominant and non-dominant limbsAt baselineWill be measured at 60°/s using a three-repetition protocol via an isokinetic dynamometer
Maximal heart rateChange from baseline (pre-game) to that recorded during the 40-minute gameWill be measured using an automated online pulmonary gas exchange system via breath- by- breath analysis during a graded exercise testing on a treadmill
Measurement of blood lactateChange from baseline to the: a. 20th minute (half-time) and 40th minute (end of the game) (N=10), b. 5th minute (mid-1st period) and 25th minute (mid-3rd period) (N=10) and c. 15th minute (mid-2nd period) and 35th minute (mid-4th period) (N=10).Will be measured in capillary blood collected from the index finger using a handheld portable analyzer
Measurement of plasma glucose concentrationChange from baseline to the: a. 20th minute (half-time) and 40th minute (end of the game) (N=10), b. 5th minute (mid-1st period) and 25th minute (mid-3rd period) (N=10) and c. 15th minute (mid-2nd period) and 35th minute (mid-4th period) (N=10).Will be measured using a Clinical Chemistry Analyzer and a commercially available kit
Body massChange from baseline (pre-game) to 40 minutes of the gameBody mass will be measured using a beam balance
Measurement of Plasma ammonia concentrationChange from baseline to the: a. 20th minute (half-time) and 40th minute (end of the game) (N=10), b. 5th minute (mid-1st period) and 25th minute (mid-3rd period) (N=10) and c. 15th minute (mid-2nd period) and 35th minute (mid-4th period) (N=10).Will be quantitatively determined on an analyzer using a commercially available kit
Measurement of Plasma potassium concentrationChange from baseline to the: a. 20th minute (half-time) and 40th minute (end of the game) (N=10), b. 5th minute (mid-1st period) and 25th minute (mid-3rd period) (N=10) and c. 15th minute (mid-2nd period) and 35th minute (mid-4th period) (N=10).Will be measured using a flame photometer (Radiometer FLM3), with lithium as the internal standard
Measurement of Plasma- free fatty acidChange from baseline to the: a. 20th minute (half-time) and 40th minute (end of the game) (N=10), b. 5th minute (mid-1st period) and 25th minute (mid-3rd period) (N=10) and c. 15th minute (mid-2nd period) and 35th minute (mid-4th period) (N=10).Will be measured spectophotometrically using an enzymatic kit
Measurement of blood hemoglobin and hematocritChange from baseline to the: a. 20th minute (half-time) and 40th minute (end of the game) (N=10), b. 5th minute (mid-1st period) and 25th minute (mid-3rd period) (N=10) and c. 15th minute (mid-2nd period) and 35th minute (mid-4th period) (N=10).Will be measured using an automated hematology analyzer
Measurement of fluid loss and intakeChange from baseline (pre-game) to 40 minutes of the gameWill be measured using the measures of body mass (using a digital weight scale) and water consumption during a game.
Measurement of blood Glycerol concentrationChange from baseline to the: a. 20th minute (half-time) and 40th minute (end of the game) (N=10), b. 5th minute (mid-1st period) and 25th minute (mid-3rd period) (N=10) and c. 15th minute (mid-2nd period) and 35th minute (mid-4th period) (N=10).Will be measured using a commercially available kit using a coupled enzyme assay involving glycerol kinase and glycerol phosphate oxidase, resulting in a colorimetric/fluorometric product proportional to the glycerol present.
Body heightAt baselineBody height will be measured using a beam balance with a stadiometer
Body mass index (BMI)At baselineBMI will be calculated using the Quetelet's equation
Body fat (BF)At baselineBody fat (%) will be assessed by whole-body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA)
Fat mass (FM)At baselineFM (kg) will be assessed by whole-body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA)
Fat-free mass (FFM)At baselineFFM (kg) will be assessed by whole-body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA)
Bone mass densityAt baselineBone mass density will be measured by using Dual-emission X-ray absorptiometry
Bone mass contentAt baselineBone mass content will be measured by using Dual-emission X-ray absorptiometry
Dietary intakeAt baselineDietary intake will be assesed over a 7-day period using diet recalls
Evaluation of physical activity (PA)At baselineInternational Physical Activity Questionnaire - IPAQ
Rest Heart RateAt baselineThe rest heart rate will be estimated using a heart rate monitor
Peak Maximal oxygen consumption (Peak VO2)At baselinePeak VO2 will be estimated by open circuit spirometry via breath by breath method

Countries

Greece

Contacts

Primary ContactIoannis G Fatouros, Professor
ifatouros@uth.gr+302431047047
Backup ContactAthanasios Chatzinicolaou, Professor
achatzin@phyed.duth.gr+30 25310 39632

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026