Basketball Performance, Lower Extremity Explosive Power Deficit, Muscle Fatigue, Sports Recovery
Conditions
Keywords
Ischemic preconditioning, Basketball, Lower extremity explosiveness, Physical recovery, Post-match recovery
Brief summary
This study aimed to evaluate the effects of ischemic preconditioning on lower limb explosive power and post-exercise recovery in basketball players during a 6-week post-season recovery training period. Thirty-four male collegiate basketball players were randomly assigned to either an IPC group or a placebo control group. Bilateral lower limb IPC intervention (3 cycles, each consisting of 5-minute ischemia at 220 mmHg and 5-minute reperfusion, twice per week for 6 weeks) was administered before routine basketball training sessions. Lower limb explosive power, as well as physiological, biochemical, and morphological indices, were assessed before and after the intervention.
Detailed description
Background: Lower limb explosive power is crucial for basketball performance, and effective recovery strategies are key to maintaining training quality. Ischemic preconditioning (IPC) is a non-invasive, economical, and safe method that triggers endogenous protective mechanisms through brief ischemia-reperfusion cycles, showing potential in enhancing athletic performance and metabolic efficiency. However, the effects of IPC on lower limb explosive power during post-match recovery in basketball players remain understudied. Objective: To investigate the effects of a 6-week repeated remote ischemic preconditioning on lower limb explosive power, phosphagen energy system capacity, and physical recovery in male college basketball players. Design: A randomized, parallel-group, placebo-controlled trial with concealed allocation. Participants were randomly assigned to either the IPC experimental group (n=17) or the placebo control group (n=17). Both groups participated in the same regular basketball sessions. The experimental group received bilateral thigh IPC intervention (3×5 minutes, 220 mmHg) before each training session, while the control group received a placebo intervention (3×5 minutes, 20 mmHg). The intervention was administered twice a week for 6 weeks (30 minutes per session). Secondary endpoints: Urinary creatinine coefficient, 10-second maximal load test (blood lactate increment, peak power, mean power), hematological parameters (red blood cell count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, white blood cell count), serum testosterone, cortisol, testosterone/cortisol ratio, body composition (body weight, body fat percentage, BMI), and training load monitoring (heart rate, RPE, urine protein).
Interventions
DEVICEIschemic Preconditioning
Bilateral thigh compression was applied using a Theratools pneumatic cuff (T-bfr-0475). Three cycles, each consisting of 5 minutes of ischemia (pressure 220 mmHg) and 5 minutes of reperfusion (total 30 minutes), were performed before regular basketball training sessions. The intervention was conducted twice per week for 6 weeks. Cuff placement: at the inguinal crease of the thigh. Subject position: supine, alternating between left and right legs.
DEVICEPlacebo Ischemic Preconditioning
Identical procedure to IPC group except cuff pressure maintained at 20 mmHg (non-ischemic), applied before regular basketball training. Twice weekly for 6 weeks.
Sponsors
Guangzhou Sport University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Subject)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
MALE
Age
18 Years to 25 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Male basketball students at Guangzhou Sport University. * Regular participants in basketball training/practice. * Healthy adults without cardiovascular, hepatic, renal, digestive, neurological, or metabolic diseases. * Blood pressure within normal range. * No history of lower extremity musculoskeletal injury within the past 6 months. * Not currently using any performance-enhancing substances or medications affecting hormones/metabolism. * Voluntary participation with signed informed consent.
Exclusion criteria
* Presence of acute or chronic diseases affecting exercise performance. * History of deep vein thrombosis or coagulation disorders. * Presence of skin lesions or infections at the thigh cuff placement site. * Participation in other concurrent lower extremity strength/power training programs outside the study. * Use of dietary supplements known to affect muscle metabolism within 4 weeks prior to enrollment. * Inability to complete the full 6-week intervention and testing protocol.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Squat Jump (SJ) height | Baseline (Week 0) and Post-intervention (Week 8) | Change from baseline in lower extremity concentric explosive power measured by Smart Jump portable contact mat (cm). |
| Countermovement Jump (CMJ) height | Baseline and Week 8 | Change from baseline in lower extremity reactive explosive power without arm swing (cm). |
| Reactive Strength Index (RSI) | Baseline and Week 8 | Change from baseline in RSI derived from 30cm drop jump using Smart Jump system (m/s). The RSI was calculated as jump height divided by ground contact time, with higher values indicating better reactive strength capacity in athletes (i.e., shorter ground contact times and greater jump heights). The observed range of RSI in the present study was \[minimum value\]-\[maximum value\] m/s. |
| Standing Long Jump | Baseline and Week 8 | Change from baseline in lower extremity horizontal explosive power (cm). |
| T-Test (T-run) | Baseline and Week 8 | Change from baseline in multi-directional agility performance (seconds). |
| 3/4 Court Sprint | Baseline and Week 8 | Change from baseline in linear sprint speed over 3/4 basketball court distance (\~21m, seconds). |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Blood Lactate Accumulation | Baseline and Week 8 | Change in blood lactate accumulation during 10-second maximal load test (mmol/L). |
| Peak Power (10s Test) | Baseline and Week 8 | Change from baseline in peak power output during 10-second maximal load test on Monark 828E cycle ergometer (Watts). |
| Mean Power (10s Test) | Baseline and Week 8 | Change from baseline in mean power output during 10-second maximal load test (Watts). |
| Testosterone/Cortisol Ratio | Baseline and Week 8 | Change from baseline in T/C ratio (×10-²). |
Countries
China
Contacts
CONTACTZiyue Ou, PHD
Outcome results
None listed