The Effects of Functional Training on Lower Extremity Biomechanics during Hopping in Adolescent Professional Basketball Players: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Document Type : Original Articles

Authors
Mostafa Awad 1
Morteza Sadeghi 2
Gholam Ali Ghasemi 3
Shahram Lenjannejadian 4
1 PhD Candidate, Department of Sport Injuries and Corrective Exercises, School of Sports Sciences, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
2 Assistant Professor, Department of Sport Injuries and Corrective Exercises, School of Sports Sciences, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
3 Professor, Department of Sport Injuries and Corrective Exercises, School of Sports Sciences, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
4 Associate Professor, Department of Sport Injuries and Corrective Exercises, School of Sports Sciences, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
10.48305/jrrs.2026.45378.1113
Abstract
Introduction: Knee kinetic and kinematic are important in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) loading in elite basketball players who repeatedly practice jumping maneuvers such as hopping. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of 8 weeks of functional training on the knee flexion, reaction force, and load during hopping in professional basketball players.
Materials and Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 30 professional basketball players were randomly assigned into experimental, and control groups (n = 15 per group). The experimental group attended the functional training program three times a week for eight weeks. Lower extremity kinetics and kinematics were collected before and after training period during single leg drop landing using force platform and motion analysis system. The data were analyzed by repeated measure ANOVA at the significance level of α = 0.05.
Results: The peak vertical ground reaction forces and peak loading rate significantly decreased following eight-weeks functional training (P < 0.001, P = 0.030 respectively). The knee flexion angle in the experimental group significantly increased after 8 weeks of training (P = 0.030).
Conclusion: Based on the present findings, functional training, improved the muscle recruitment strategy during the hopping movement probably through increasing the functional stability of the body. Therefore, it can be concluded that functional training may help managing the risk factors for ACL injury, such as some biomechanical factors, during dynamic movements.

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