Fluctuations of Jump Height in Male Basketball Players: Analysis of a Competitive Season.

Abstract

The present study aimed to determine whether neuromuscular fatigue monitored through countermovement jump height was a reliable and helpful marker for monitoring acute (session) and chronic (between sessions/periods of the season) fatigue throughout an entire basketball season. A longitudinal observational study analyzed the neuromuscular performance (i.e., through countermovement jump) during a basketball season. Fourteen semiprofessional male basketball players participated in the study between September 2021 and May 2022 (34 weeks, 102 practices, and 1574 jumps analyzed). Upon waking up, they completed an online wellness questionnaire. Before practices began, players performed three countermovement jumps on a contact platform after a structured warm-up, repeating the protocol at the end of each practice. Ten minutes after finishing such practice, they also reported perceived exertion's muscular and cardiovascular ratings. The preseason was the period of the season with the lowest absolute countermovement jump height levels (2.06 to 2.50 cm; d = 1.92 to 2.74, very large, p < 0.02). Average pre-session jumps were very largely higher on Wednesdays (0.62 cm, 95% CI = 0.29 - 0.95, p = 0.0095, d = 2.09) and Fridays (0.62 cm, 95% CI = 0.06 - 0.88, p = 0.06, d = 1.43) compared to Mondays. The countermovement jump is a valuable marker for assessing fatigue in semiprofessional basketball players. Games played on weekends mainly and consistently affected Monday's jumping performance, showing the lowest average values. Finally, preseason values were lower than those observed for the rest of the season.