Repeated sprint training improves both anaerobic and aerobic fitness in basketball players

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Gantois, Petrus^{a; b; *} | Batista, Gilmário Ricarte^b | Aidar, Felipe José^{c; d} | Nakamura, Fabio Yuzo^b | de Lima-Júnior, Dalton^e | Cirilo-Sousa, Maria S.^b | de Matos, Dihogo Gama^{d; f} | Cabral, Breno G.A.T.^a

Affiliations: [a] Research Group Physical Activity and Health, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil | [b] Associate Graduate Program in Physical Education, UFPB/UPE – LABOCINE, João Pessoa, Brazil | [c] Department of Physical Education, Federal University of Sergipe, Sao Cristovao, Brazil | [d] Group of Studies and Research of Performance, Sport, Health and Paralympic Sports – GEPEPS, Federal University of Sergipe, Sao Cristovao, Brazil | [e] Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil | [f] Department of Sports Science, Exercise and Health, Tras-os-Montes e Alto Douro University, Vila Real, Portugal

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Petrus Gantois, Departamento de Educação Física, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Avenida Salgado Filho, s/n Lagoa Nova, 59072-900 Natal, RN, Brasil.E-mail: [email protected].

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Basketball is an intermittent sport were both neuromuscular and aerobic fitness are essential for the players. Thereby, repeated sprint training seems to be a feasible training strategy to improve these physical attributes. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study is to verify the effect of repeated sprint training on the anaerobic and aerobic performance in basketball players. METHODS: Seventeen college players were randomized into two groups, repeated sprint training (n= 9) and control group (n= 8). The repeated sprint training group performed 2–3 sets of 6 × 30 m all-out sprints, twice per week, in addition to the regular training routine. The control group performed only regular training routine during six weeks on the pre-season. The dependent variables were aerobic fitness, vertical countermovement jump, repeated vertical jump ability, and repeated sprints ability. RESULTS: Repeated sprint training improve the best sprint time (p= 0.033), worst sprint time (p= 0.035), sprint decrement (p= 0.04), CMJ (p= 0.037), and peak speed in the incremental test (p= 0.008). CONCLUSION: Repeated sprint training is effective in conditioning neuromuscular quality-related abilities of short sprint speed, jump, and aerobic fitness in college basketball players during the last phase of the pre-season.

Keywords: Athletes, team sports, physical fitness, intermittent efforts, high-intensity interval training

DOI: 10.3233/IES-182212

Journal: Isokinetics and Exercise Science, vol. 27, no. 2, pp. 97-105, 2019