Antropomotoryka nr 57 [2012]. - Akademia Wychowania Fizycznego ...

Stretching and strength exercises in relation to running speed and anaerobic power in basketball players• Is the rate of changes in running speed and anaerobicpower of young basketball players more affectedby a stretching exercise programme or a strengthexercise programme?• Which of the two types of training has a greater effecton the development of the players’ flexibility?• How are the level of flexibility of young basketballplayers and their running speed and anaerobicpower parameters interrelated?The above relationships were studied based onlong-term adaptive changes that were induced in theyoung athletes by a special, 3-month training programme.The research project was approved by the BioethicalCommission at Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of PhysicalEducation in Katowice. Before the commencement ofresearch, the participants were informed about its natureand objectives, and their parents consented to theirparticipation. The participants could withdraw from thestudy at any stage.Material and methodsParticipantsThe sample consisted of 36 male basketball playersaged 15.7 ± 1.2 years and having training experience of2.1 ± 0.9 years, who were selected based on a purposivesampling technique. They were divided into threesubgroups of 12 participants. Each subgroup carriedout a different fitness programme, but their technicaland tactical programmes were similar:Group I (GR, n = 12) – stretching exercises done ineach training unit for 3 months.Group II (GS, n = 12) – strength exercises done in eachtraining unit for 3 months.Group III (control) (GC, n = 12) – a technical and tacticalprogramme carried out in each training unit for3 months.ProceduresThe study involved a 3-month training macrocycle duringwhich all three subgroups carried out similar technicaland tactical training programmes, but started andended each training with their specific exercises aimedto develop selected motor abilities:Group I (GR) did 10-minute stretching exercisesduring the warm-up and in the final phase of training.Group II (GS) did 10-minute dynamic strength exercisesin the second part of the warm-up and isometricexercises of the same duration in the final phase oftraining.Group III (GC) was a control group doing technicaland tactical exercises of identical duration, without anyaccents on muscle strength and flexibility.The participants were tested for running speed(5 and 20 metres), anaerobic power (vertical jump ona tensometric platform) and flexibility (three fitness trials)before and after the macrocycle.Anaerobic power was measured on a tensometricplatform produced by AMTI (USA) AccuGait, at 100Hzsampling frequency. The following variables were recorded:FO – take-off propulsion [N/s], VO – take-offvelocity [m/s], WWP – vertical jump height [m], PO –work at take-off [J/kg], MS – mean power, and MM –maximum take-off power [W/kg], relative values of workand of the mean and maximum take-off power (i.e. inrelation to the player’s bodyweight), the angle of theGRF vector at take-off.Running speed was measured using the laser deviceLDM 300C-Sport for the following variables: SS5– take-off speed (5-meter) [s], SA20 – absolute speed(20-meter) [s], DKB – running step length [m], CKB –running step frequency [k/s].Flexibility was estimated based on a sit and reachtest (an SRT variable), a test for hip joint flexibility in thesagittal plane (a GKDS variable) and a test for hip jointflexibility in the frontal plane (a GKDC variable).The sit and reach testDescription: The participant sits on the floor with feetspread at shoulder width and blocked against a support(e.g. a side of a bench) and then bends forward (keepinghis knees straight) to make fingertips marks on the scaleattached to the support (the bench) as far as he can.Measurement: The test is repeated four times, duringthe fourth trial the participant is asked to hold theposition for at least 1 second. The measurement is readfrom the centimetre scale.Equipment and aids: a bench, a 0–100 cm scale.The test for hip joint flexibility in the sagittal planeDescription: During the sagittal flexibility test thesubject assumes a front stance and then tries to do theforward splits, the legs straight and the hands supportingthe body on both sides.Measurement: The flexibility coefficient (G) is calculatedby dividing the distance between the floor and– 19 –