Functional and Performance Effects of a 4-week Weightlifting Program in Highly Trained Adolescent Basketball Athletes

Functional and Performance Effects of a 4-week Weightlifting Program in Highly Trained Adolescent Basketball Athletes

Functional and Performance Effects of a 4-week Weightlifting Program in Highly Trained Adolescent Basketball Athletes

Weightlifting is an increasingly used intervention in the sport field to improve both function and performance outcomes. However, the effects in a pediatric and adolescent population are not well described, and require further research to elucidate the benefits and potential adverse effects compared to other strength training methods, such as plyometric training.

Highly trained male and female adolescent basketball athletes aged 12-16 years will be recruited for the study. Participants will be randomly assigned to a 4-week program (12 sessions) of weightlifting or plyometric training. The training programs will be identical in sets and repetitions, progressively evolving each week towards fewer sets and fewer repetitions. The training intensity will be the same in both groups, calculated from the RM, starting at 70% in the first week and progressing by 5% each week until a final intensity of 85% in the last week. Therefore, both interventions evolve towards sessions with fewer sets and repetitions and higher loads. The weightlifting intervention refers to the performance of highly technical and explosive multi-joint strength exercises. The program consists of six basic weightlifting maneuvers (hang power clean, overhead squat, hang power snatch, clean, split jerk, snatch), two of which are performed in each of the three weekly sessions. The order of execution of the exercises in the weekly sessions is always the same. To ensure the correct execution of the maneuvers, before starting the intervention, a brief familiarization program will be carried out. This consists of an explanation of the exercises by the research staff and practice by the participants with simultaneous correction. The plyometric program follows the same structure, consisting in a total of 6 exercises (Max countermovement jump, double leg side jump, maximum squat jump, dropjump (20cm), single leg hurdle jump, doble leg multi hop) performed in groups of 2 for each weekly training session. The design of the intervention program is based on previously published related articles.Training sessions will be supervised by a member of the research team with expertise in strength and conditioning in basketball athletes.

It consists of a 4-week strength training program based on weightlifting. Participants received previously education-training program on how to correctly perform the technique.

It refeers to the maximum weight that an athlete can lift correctly in one repetition. The maximum weight lifted is recorded in kg.

Measured with validated dynamometer equipment, it register the isometric strength that an athlethe perform in a hand grip contraction. Strength is recorded in kg. Three valid measures will be recorded and the mean value will be calculated.

Force Frame system equipment will be used to assess the isometric strength for lower-limb (hip and knee) muscles. Strength values will be expressed in kg. Three valid measures will be recorded and the mean value will be calculated.

Check-your motion (R) device (validated) will be used to evaluate ankle dorsiflexion in weigth-bearing. position.Three valid measures will be recorded and the mean value will be calculated. Results will be expressed in cm

From motion cameras, the time (seconds) that an athlete takes to perform a straight line movement of 20 meters at maximum speed will be recorded.

CMJ will be used as perfomance-based outcome. Athlete, in standing position, will perform a maximum vertical jump with both hands placed on the hips. The data will be collected with the Chronojump contact platform equipment, (Boscosystem®, Barcelona, Spain), registering the flight height (cm) and power (watts). Three valid measures will be recorded and the mean value will be calculated.

This test will be used to evaluate longitudinal maximum hop performance, registering the distance reached in cm. The procedure will be performed unilaterally with both legs. A tape measure will be used to record the distance traveled. Three valid measures will be registered and the mean will be calculated

Inclusion Criteria: Healthy highly-trained basketball athletes Exclusion Criteria: Current injury or complaining limiting sports activity No histoy of injury receiving non-operative treatment in the last 3 months No history of injury receiving operative treatment in the last 9 months Subjects who have previously carried out weightlifting training for at least 4 weeks of duration. Subjects physically unable to perform a strength training program