Effects of Functional Training on Performance in Professional Basketball Players

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine whether functional training had any effects on performance and related various physical components of basketball players. \n\nMaterials and Methods: 28 athletes participated from first and second division professional basketball teams of one club. While first division basketball team players (n=14, average age: 26.6 ± 5.9 years) were assigned into functional training group (FTG), second division basketball team players (n=14, average age: 22.4 ± 4.2 years) were assigned into control group (CG). FTG completed a functional training program which included core strengthening and specific basketball task-related exercises with/without equipment. CG followed traditional strength training consisted of machine and free weight lifting based exercises. Both groups performed trainings for 20 weeks (2 days/week with 75-85 min. duration) along with the routine basketball practice. Anthropometric measurements, sit and reach flexibility test, 20 m speed test, T-drill and Lane-agility tests, horizontal and vertical jump tests, one-repetition maximum bench press and leg press strength tests were assessed before and after the 20-week program. \n\nResults: The results of this study was indicated that the FTG significantly improved upper and lower body strength, flexibility, vertical jump ability and T-drill agility scores relative to the CG (p<0.05).\n\nConclusions: These findings demonstrate that the functional training (FT) can be an alternative method to traditional resistance training for improving performance-related parameters such as flexibility, vertical jump ability, agility, and strength. Further researches are needed to study with the different parameters about athletic performance in other sport disciplines and with larger sample size.