ORIGINAL ARTICLE  SPORT INJURIES AND REHABILITATION 

The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness 2020 January;60(1):110-8

DOI: 10.23736/S0022-4707.19.09918-3

Copyright © 2019 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Effects of basketball match-play on ankle dorsiflexion range of motion and vertical jump performance in semi-professional players

Víctor MORENO-PÉREZ ^{1, 2}, Juan DEL COSO ³, Javier RAYA-GONZÁLEZ ⁴, Fabio Y. NAKAMURA ⁵, Daniel CASTILLO ⁴ ✉

¹ Sports Research Center, Miguel Hernandez University of Elche, Alicante, Spain; ² Department of Pathology and Surgery, Physiotherapy Area, Miguel Hernández University of Elche, Alicante, Spain; ³ Exercise Physiology Laboratory, Camilo José Cela University, Madrid, Spain; ⁴ Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Isabel I, Burgos, Spain; ⁵ Associate Graduate Program in Physical Education UPE/UFPB, João Pessoa, Brazil

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of basketball match-play on ankle dorsiflexion range of motion (ROM) and countermovement (CMJ) performance, and their association with internal match load.
METHODS: Thirty semi-professional basketball players participated in this study. Ankle dorsiflexion ROM and bilateral CMJ performance were evaluated before (pre-match) and immediately after match-play (post-match). In addition, ankle dorsiflexion ROM was measured 48 hours post-match. Furthermore, for each player, the ankle dorsiflexion ROM scores were categorized as normal or restricted according to previously reported reference values (>2 cm change from baseline pre-match to post-match and to 48 hours post-match).
RESULTS: Ankle dorsiflexion ROM was increased post-match from pre-match in dominant and non-dominant limbs (most likely small) and decreased 48 hours post-match (most likely moderate) compared with immediately post-match measures in both limbs. Approximately 20% of all players showed restricted ankle dorsiflexion ROM values 48 hours post-match. CMJ performance was higher post-match than pre-match.
CONCLUSIONS: Ankle dorsiflexion ROM is still reduced 48 h after a competitive basketball match in semi-professional basketball players. The implementation of specific recovery strategies aiming at minimizing a decrease in ankle dorsiflexion after a match might be considered to reduce the likelihood of ankle injury.

KEY WORDS: Basketball; Athletic injuries; Fatigue; Athletic performance