Leveraging Statistical Theory In Sports Competitions: An Analysis Of Probabilistic Models And Multiple Regression Within The Framework Of Big Data

CBA is a sports event that allows fans to enjoy themselves and players to give full play, and traditional Chinese cultural values have a profound influence on it. This paper takes the 100 sets of historical rating data of the fourteen teams in CBA league as the basic basis, firstly, we simply deal with the 100 sets of historical rating data and use Excel function formula to find out the mean, extreme deviation and variance of each team, then we carry out SAS normal test, and we find that except for the very few data with large deviation, the historical rating data satisfy the normal distribution. Through the outlier algorithm to screen the values, compare the confidence intervals as well as carry out hypothesis testing, to objectively and scientifically explore the probability of each team winning the championship in the CBA league. Compare the probability of winning the championship of these fourteen teams and predict the top four teams in the CBA league to ensure that the prediction results are as reasonable as possible. With the help of hierarchical analysis to qualitatively analyze the level of each team, and then through cluster analysis to compare these data, and combined with the trend of the development of the world's basketball movement, the use of multiple regression and SPSS to analyze the level of the team's factors, in-depth thinking about the league, a more reasonable to give a more scientific to improve the probability of the team's winning the championship, and to promote better development of the basketball movement. (AU)

Effects of a Singular Dose of Mangiferin-Quercetin Supplementation on Basketball Performance: A Double-Blind Crossover Study of High-Level Male Players.

Pre-exercise mangiferin-quercetin may enhance athletic performance. This study investigated the effect of mangiferin-quercetin supplementation on high-level male basketball players during a basketball exercise simulation test (BEST) comprising 24 circuits of 30 s activities with various movement distances. The participants were divided into two groups (EXP = 19 and CON = 19) and given a placebo one hour before the BEST (PRE-condition). The following week, the EXP group received mangiferin-quercetin (84 mg/140 mg), while the CON group received a placebo (POST-condition) before the BEST in a double-blind, cross-over design. The mean heart rate (HR) and circuit and sprint times (CT and ST) during the BEST were measured, along with the capillary blood lactate levels (La-), the subjective rating of muscle soreness (RPMS), and the perceived exertion (RPE) during a resting state prior to and following the BEST. The results showed significant interactions for the mean CT (p = 0.013) and RPE (p = 0.004); a marginal interaction for La- (p = 0.054); and non-significant interactions for the mean HR, mean ST, and RPMS. Moreover, the EXP group had significantly lower values in the POST condition for the mean CT (18.17 ± 2.08 s) and RPE (12.42 ± 1.02) compared to the PRE condition (20.33 ± 1.96 s and 13.47 ± 1.22, respectively) and the POST condition of the CON group (20.31 ± 2.10 s and 13.32 ± 1.16, respectively) (p < 0.05). These findings highlight the potential of pre-game mangiferin-quercetin supplementation to enhance intermittent high-intensity efforts in sports such as basketball.

Is foam rolling as effective as its popularity suggests? A randomised crossover study exploring post-match recovery in female basketball.

This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of foam rolling as a post-match recovery tool in basketball. Using a crossover design, 13 female players completed two simulated matches, followed by foam rolling (FR) or placebo (CON). Countermovement jump height (CMJ), heart rate variability (Ln-rMSSD), muscle soreness (VAS), perceived recovery (TQR) and fatigue (Rating-of-Fatigue) were recorded at pre-match, post-match, post-recovery and 24 h post-match. No significant effect of time*intervention and intervention were found for any variable (p > 0.05), while a significant effect of time (p < 0.01) was reported for all variables. Post-hoc analyses revealed lower CMJ and Ln-rMSSD at post-match compared with all other time points (p < 0.001), increases in pre-match VAS scores at all subsequent time points (p < 0.01), and worse TQR and Rating-of-Fatigue scores from pre-to-post-match and pre-match-to-post-recovery (p < 0.01), except for unchanged TQR values from pre-match-to-post-recovery in FR (p > 0.05). Overall, the present data suggest that foam rolling was generally ineffective for improving post-exercise recovery in female basketball players after a single match. Future research investigating the effectiveness of foam rolling in players of different sex, age and/or competitive level is warranted to provide further insight on the topic.

The effect of a basketball game on balance ability: A study using a dual task paradigm.

INTRODUCTION: Sports activity can affect balance ability, increasing injury risk. Single session of acute exercise can also alter cognitive function, potentially linked to balance ability. In this study, we examined the changes in cognitive function and static and dynamic balance abilities before and after the basketball game, and a dual-task was used to evaluate static balance ability. METHOD: We measured the rating of perceived exertion (RPE), static and dynamic balance ability, and cognitive function in 12 male university basketball players before and after basketball game. We compared the differences in each measurement before and after the game using a t-test and examined the correlation between RPE, cognitive function, and balance ability. RESULTS: We found RPE and cognitive function increased after the game. However, static balance ability in the dual-task and dynamic balance ability did not change before and after the game. Positive correlation found pre-RPE with SC-total and DO-locus length, and SEBT-ANT. Negative correlation found post-RPE with SEBT-PL, and positive correlation found ΔRPE with DO-peripheral area. DISCUSSION: To enhance post-game balance ability, it is crucial to assess pre-game RPE for each player. Also, the understanding game-induced load is imperative as high post-game RPE negatively affects static and dynamic balance ability. Therefore, game load management strategies must be employed to ensure optimal balance ability. CONCLUSION: Because RPE before and after a basketball game is related to balance ability after the game, it is important to understand the amount of load on the players.

Intervention study of tai chi training on the intestinal flora of college student basketball players.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, the interactions between host and host-associated gut flora have received increasingly widespread attention. Tai chi is a traditional Chinese exercise, which can significantly benefit adults with health condition. But the studies on the function of intestinal flora and its correlation with tai chi exercise, are limited. In addition, the influence of tai chi on intestinal flora has largely been understudied. In this study, we investigated the changes in intestinal microflora by 16S rRNA sequencing to clarify the specific mechanism of tai chi on the regulation of intestinal flora and seek to formulate a reasonable "exercise prescription." METHODS: Design: randomized controlled trial. Participants: thirty college basketball players randomly divided into control (n = 15) and test (n = 15) groups. Intervention: experimental group practiced 24-style simplified tai chi ≥ 6 times/week for 20 weeks. Outcomes: serum biochemical markers, blood pressure, and intestinal microbial composition measured post-intervention. Analysis: intent-to-treat analysis. RESULTS: Primary outcomes: after tai chi intervention, the level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (1.22 mmol/L) and triglycerides (0.64 mmol/L) were significantly decreased. Secondary outcomes: aspartate transaminase, alanine aminotransferase, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein remained unchanged. Microbiota: α-diversity index significantly increased, particularly with increased Blautia. Blood pressure: test group showed significantly lower diastolic blood pressure (83-95 mm Hg) compared to control. DISCUSSION: Considering other markers, increased gut flora diversity during exercise may imply a healthier gut environment. Physical exercise promotes a decrease in the inflammatory process by reducing the levels of bacteria associated with pro-inflammation, such as Proteobacteria. Further research is required to understand the nuanced link between gut flora diversity and exercise intensity. CONCLUSION: 24-style simplified tai chi enhances human intestinal flora diversity. Improvements observed in blood lipid profiles and blood pressure levels.

Interactive effects of dispositional mindfulness and PETTLEP imagery training on basketball shooting performance: A randomized controlled trial.

The purpose of this study was to examine the interactive effects of dispositional mindfulness and visualized PETTLEP imagery training on basketball mid-range shooting performance and retention. Seventy-three participants (M age = 20.32 ± 1.09) with high/low dispositional mindfulness (high n = 35; low n = 38) selected out of 302 college students were randomly assigned into the following six groups: (a) high mindfulness internal imagery (H-II, n = 13); (b) high mindfulness external imagery (H-EI, n = 11); (c) high mindfulness control (H-CO, n = 11); (d) low mindfulness internal imagery (L-II, n = 13); (e) low mindfulness external imagery (L-EI, n = 12); and (f) low mindfulness control (L-CO, n = 13). Participants engaged in a pretest to measure their basketball shooting performance, then participated in a 6-week (3 times/per-week) intervention, plus a posttest and retention test. A three-way 2 (high/low mindfulness) X 3 (treatments: internal-, external imagery, and control) X 3 (measurement time: pretest, posttest, and retention) mixed ANOVA statistical analysis found dispositional mindfulness interacted with treatments and measurement time. The main effects showed high dispositional mindfulness performed better than low dispositional mindfulness, and internal imagery training performed better than external imagery training on mid-range basketball performance at retention. The 3-way interaction indicated that when using either internal or external imagery, high dispositional mindfulness performed better than low mindfulness on retention but not posttest. For 2-way interaction, high dispositional mindfulness performed better than low dispositional mindfulness on retention but not posttest. Our results extended current knowledge on sport imagery and dispositional mindfulness and gained several theoretical implications for researchers. The limitations, future research directions, and practical implications were also discussed.

Virtual reality and motor imagery for early post-stroke rehabilitation.

BACKGROUND: Motor impairment is a common consequence of stroke causing difficulty in independent movement. The first month of post-stroke rehabilitation is the most effective period for recovery. Movement imagination, known as motor imagery, in combination with virtual reality may provide a way for stroke patients with severe motor disabilities to begin rehabilitation. METHODS: The aim of this study is to verify whether motor imagery and virtual reality help to activate stroke patients' motor cortex. 16 acute/subacute (< 6 months) stroke patients participated in this study. All participants performed motor imagery of basketball shooting which involved the following tasks: listening to audio instruction only, watching a basketball shooting animation in 3D with audio, and also performing motor imagery afterwards. Electroencephalogram (EEG) was recorded for analysis of motor-related features of the brain such as power spectral analysis in the [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] frequency bands and spectral entropy. 18 EEG channels over the motor cortex were used for all stroke patients. RESULTS: All results are normalised relative to all tasks for each participant. The power spectral densities peak near the [Formula: see text] band for all participants and also the [Formula: see text] band for some participants. Tasks with instructions during motor imagery generally show greater power spectral peaks. The p-values of the Wilcoxon signed-rank test for band power comparison from the 18 EEG channels between different pairs of tasks show a 0.01 significance of rejecting the band powers being the same for most tasks done by stroke subjects. The motor cortex of most stroke patients is more active when virtual reality is involved during motor imagery as indicated by their respective scalp maps of band power and spectral entropy. CONCLUSION: The resulting activation of stroke patient's motor cortices in this study reveals evidence that it is induced by imagination of movement and virtual reality supports motor imagery. The framework of the current study also provides an efficient way to investigate motor imagery and virtual reality during post-stroke rehabilitation.

Iron deficiency in young basketball players: Is a 100 µg/L ferritin cut-off appropriate for iron supplementation?: Results of a randomized placebo-controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Iron deficiency (ID) is one of the most common factors that may reduce sports performance, supplementation forms and doses are still not standardized in athletes. Our aim was to assess the iron status of young male basketball players and to study the effect of iron supplementation in a randomized placebo-controlled study. HYPOTHESIS: We hypothesized that due to the higher iron demand of athletes, the 100 µg/L ferritin cut-off may be appropriate to determine the non-anemic ID. METHODS: During a sports cardiology screening, questionnaires, laboratory tests, electrocardiograms, echocardiography exams, and cardiopulmonary exercise tests were performed. Athletes with ID (ferritin <100 µg/L) were randomized into iron and placebo groups. Ferrous sulfate (containing 100 mg elemental iron [II] and 60 mg ascorbic acid) or placebo (50 mg vitamin C) was administered for 3 months. All exams were repeated after the supplementation period. RESULTS: We included 65 (age 15.8 ± 1.7 years) basketball players divided into four age groups. Non-anemic ID was observed in 60 (92%) athletes. After supplementation, ferritin levels were higher in the iron group (75.5 ± 25.9 vs. 54.9 ± 10.4 µg/L, p < .01). Ferritin >100 µg/L level was achieved only in 15% of the athletes. There were no differences in performance between the groups (VO2 max: 53.6 ± 4.3 vs. 54.4 ± 5.7 mL/kg/min, p = .46; peak lactate: 9.1 ± 2.2 vs. 9.1 ± 2.6 mmol/L, p = .90). CONCLUSIONS: As a result of the 3-month iron supplementation, the ferritin levels increased; however, only a small portion of the athletes achieved the target ferritin level, while performance improvement was not detectable.

The Effect of Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback on Basketball Performance Tests.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of 10-week heart rate variability biofeedback training on basketball skills, free throws, and heart rate variability parameters. Twenty-four basketball players (experimental, n = 12 and control, n = 12) aged 18-24 years volunteered to participate in this study. The experimental group participated in a 10-week heart rate variability biofeedback and basketball training program, while the control group only participated in the 10-week basketball training session. Basketball free-throw performance, basketball skills, and heart rate variability tests were conducted on the experimental and control groups before and after the 10-week intervention. Consequently, we discovered that basketball free-throw performance, breathing frequency, and heart rate variability parameters, which reflect vagal modulation of parasympathetic activity, improved in participants who underwent the 10-week heart rate variability biofeedback and basketball training, and not in those who took basketball training only. Our findings propose that heart rate variability biofeedback, alongside basketball workouts, can contribute to better basketball free-throw performance potentially through improved autonomic nervous system functioning.

Effects of high-intensity interval training on aerobic capacity and sports-specific skills in basketball players.

INTRODUCTION: High intensity interval training (HIIT) are widely used to improve the cardiac performance in Basketball players. The current study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of High-Intensity Interval Training on the Aerobic Capacity and sports-specific skills in basketball players. METHODS: 40 male basketball players in the age group 18-25 years were recruited after necessary ethical clearance. Athletes were categorized into two groups of 20 people each: Group 1 control group (age: 21.9 ± 2.4 years, height: 184.6 ± 12.1 cm BMI: 23 ± 3 kg/m2) and Group 2 study group with HIIT (age: 21.4 ± 2.6 years, height: 177.4 ± 6.0 cm BMI: 22.1 ± 2.3 kg/m2). The study group players underwent 5 weeks (10 sessions) of HIIT training. Pre and post intervention evaluation of the Aerobic Capacity (VO2 max) and sports-specific skills were quantified for both the groups. Statistical analysis was performed using one tailed t-test with p < 0.05 for significance. Cohen's D method was used to calculate the effect size and minimum important difference. RESULT: There was a significant increase (p < 0.05) in VO2 max (pre:52.8 ± 2.3 ml/min/kg to post: 54.5 ± 2.4 ml/min/kg) in Group 2 whereas in Group 1 the change was not significant (pre:51.1 ± 2.6 ml/min/kg to post: 51.4 ± 2.9 ml/min/kg). Similarly, there was an increase in agility for Group 2 (pre:11.0 ± 1.0 s to post: 10.1 ± 1.0 s) compared to Group 1. In sports specific skills: Control Dribble, passing skills, Lower body power and shooting skills there was a significant increase in post HIIT training for Group 2, whereas in Group 1 there was no significant difference. DISCUSSION: The HIIT training improved the aerobic capacity (VO2 max) and sports-specific skills in basketball players. CONCLUSION: A 5-week HIIT training improved the aerobic capacity and sports specific skills and may be included as a part of training regime to improve the athletic performance in basketball players.

The Effect of Acute Pre-Workout Supplement Ingestion on Basketball-Specific Performance of Well-Trained Athletes.

A pre-workout supplement's (PWS; 200 mg caffeine, 3.3 g creatine monohydrate, 3.2 g ß-alanine, 6 g citrulline malate and 5 g branched chained amino acid (BCAA) per dose) acute effects on the alactic (jumping, sprinting, agility), lactic (Running-Based Anaerobic Sprint Test, RAST) and aerobic performance (Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 1, Yo-Yo IRL1 VO2max) of well-trained basketball players was investigated in this double-blind placebo-controlled study. Thirty players (age 18-31 years, height 166-195 cm, weight 70.2-116.7 kg, body fat 10.6-26.4%) were allocated to pre-workout (PWS, n = 15) or placebo (PL, n = 15) groups. Half of the participants in each group performed the evaluations without PWS or PL, while the rest consumed PWS or PL 30 min before the assessments (1st trial) and vice versa (2nd trial). Significant improvements in counter-movement jump (CMJ) (PWS: 4.3 ± 2.1%; PL: 1.2 ± 1.0%), agility (PWS: -2.9 ± 1.8%; PL: 1.8 ± 1.7%), RAST average (PWS: 18.3 ± 9.1%; PL: -2.2 ± 2.0%), minimum power (PWS: 13.7 ± 8.9%; PL: -7.5 ± 5.9%), and fatigue index (PWS: -25.0 ± 0.9%; PL: -4.6 ± 0.6%) were observed in the PWS group vs. the PL group (p < 0.05). No differences were found regarding sprinting, aerobic performance, and blood lactate concentrations. Thus, although players' alactic and lactic anaerobic performance could be improved, peak power, sprinting and aerobic performance are not.

The Effect of Mindfulness Intervention on the Psychological Skills and Shooting Performances in Male Collegiate Basketball Athletes in Macau: A Quasi-Experimental Study.

BACKGROUND: This study adopted a quasi-experimental design to examine the effect of a 7-week mindfulness intervention on the psychological coping ability and shooting performance of college-level male basketball athletes in Macau. METHODS: A total of 43 male college basketball athletes in Macau were selected as the participants. Besides the regular basketball training, the intervention group (n = 23) received a 7-week mindfulness training; the weekly mindfulness intervention session lasted around one hour according to the mindfulness training manual for athletes, while the control group (n = 20) did not receive any mindfulness training. Before and immediately after the 7-week intervention, all players performed the following tests: the "Five-Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire", the "Acceptance and Action Questionnaire", the "Sport Competition Anxiety Test", the "Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale", and three shooting tests. An independent-sample t-test and a paired-sample t-test were used to analyze the between- and within-group differences. Moreover, a repeated measures ANOVA was used to assess the group, time, and group-by-time effects on psychological skills and shooting performances. RESULTS: The intervention resulted in both significant between-group and within-group differences in mindfulness level, acceptance level, attention level, three-point, and free-throw shooting performances (all p < 0.05, Cohen's d ranging from 0.565 to 1.117). CONCLUSION: While further study is necessary, the present study suggests that the 7-week mindfulness training program can significantly improve psychological outcomes and shooting performance in Macau college basketball athletes. Future studies involving competition settings and objective metrics will aid in verifying mindfulness as the prevalent practice among basketball practitioners and athletes.

Analysis of Progressive Muscle Relaxation on Psychophysiological Variables in Basketball Athletes.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a progressive muscle relaxation program on psychological (stress levels, anxiety, and mood states) and physiological (blood pressure and heart rate) variables in basketball athletes. Fifty-nine basketball players, aged 14 to 19 years, and members of Bauru Basket team, were recruited for this study and grouped into control group (CG, n = 30) and intervention group (IG, n = 29). The participants were evaluated, before and after the intervention, by the following means: Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2), to measure the pre-competitive anxiety state, i.e., how anxious each athlete felt just before the competition; Brunel Mood Scale (BRUMS), an instrument for early detection of overtraining syndrome; Recovery-Stress Questionnaire for Athletes (RESTQ-Sport), to identify the extent to which each athlete was physically or mentally stressed and the athlete's current capability for recovery; Athlete Burnout Questionnaire (ABQ), specifically developed for athletes. The IG athletes participated in 12 progressive muscle relaxation sessions, a practice for tensing or tightening a specific muscle until an ideal state of relaxation is reached. Each participant had blood pressure and heart rate measured before and after every session. The CG athletes were evaluated similarly to those in the IG but without relaxation. The results showed statistically significant differences in cognitive anxiety (p = 0.039) and specific stress (p = 0.016) between CG and IG before the intervention; in addition, a significant heart rate decrease (p < 0.01) between IG and CG was noted.

Effects of Grape Seed Extract Supplementation on Endothelial Function and Endurance Performance in Basketball Players.

While dietary polyphenols supplements can improve endothelial function and blood flow to exercise, the effects of chronic supplementation with grape seed extract (GSE) containing a high dose of polyphenols on endurance performance are not known. Accordingly, in 12 elite athletes, we compared the effects of both GSE and placebo (PL) on submaximal VO2, time to exhaustion performance, and endothelial function during progressive cycling exercise for 14 days. Endothelial function was evaluated from the brachial artery via flow-mediated dilation (FMD). Compared to PL, GSE decreased submaximal VO2 at 80% and 120% of VO2peak and increased the time to exhaustion (p < 0.05). GSE also resulted in FMD-induced increase in brachial artery diameter (14.4 ± 5.2% vs. 17.6 ± 4.5%, p = 0.035). We demonstrated that chronic supplementation with GSE improved endurance performance and these effects may partially be due to vasodilation in active skeletal muscle mediated by enhanced endothelial function. Thus, our results suggest that GSE appears to be an ergogenic nutraceutical that can improve exercise performance in elite athletes.

Effects of Mindfulness for Performance Programme on Actual Performance in Ecological Sport Context: Two Studies in Basketball and Table Tennis.

Mindfulness For Performance is a programme that has been developed over 15 years. It aims to help athletes maintain effective attentional focus regardless of the disruptive sensations and thoughts induced by the performance situation. It is inspired by Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction and Acceptance Commitment Therapy programmes and has been adapted to the specificities of sport. It is composed of three steps: (a) psychoeducation and identification of the focus of attention, (b) mindfulness and acceptance training, and (c) integrating skills acquired into training and competition. This article reports the effects of MFP in two studies in national basketball players and in young table tennis players. The first study showed that mindfulness skills and free-throw accuracy during basketball games increased more in the experimental group than in the control group. Table tennis results revealed that participants who showed the highest percentage of adherence to the programme benefited more from MFP training in terms of performance outcome (i.e., accumulated points collected from published results compared with the baseline phase) than participants who showed weaker percentages of adherence to the programme. Both studies provided some evidence on the effects of MFP on specific performance indicators (i.e., free-throw accuracy in basketball and ranking points in table tennis), but this needs to be confirmed by further research measuring other relevant performance indicators. The impact and conditions of adherence also deserve more consideration.

Effect of 8-Week ß-Alanine Supplementation on CRP, IL-6, Body Composition, and Bio-Motor Abilities in Elite Male Basketball Players.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of 8-week ß-alanine supplementation on C-Reactive Protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), body composition, and bio-motor abilities in elite male basketball players. Twenty male basketball players (age: 23 + 0.6 years; body mass: 78.3 + 4.8 kg; height:185.3 + 5.4 cm, %BF, 15.2 ± 4.8) volunteered to participate in this study. They were divided into a ß-alanine group (BG, N = 10) and a placebo group (PG, N = 10). All players were preparing for university competitions and had played for over five years. Players used 6.4 g/d of ß-alanine in BG and maltodextrin in PG. The participants were involved in regular basketball training three months before the study. CRP, IL-6, body composition parameters, and bio-motor abilities were measured before starting the exercises and after completing the eight-week training period. The research findings showed a significant decrease in CRP and IL-6 and an increase in anaerobic peak power between the pre-test and post-test, as well as between BG and PG groups (p < 0.05). Although the other measured factors were a relative improvement compared to the pre-test and also compared to PG, these changes were not statistically significant (p < 0.05). Eight weeks of ß-alanine supplementation ameliorated increases in IL-6 and CRP associated with in-season physical stressors in collegiate basketball players. These changes in pro-inflammatory cytokines suggest that ß-alanine supplementation may be a useful nutritional strategy for immune regulation and can also improve anaerobic performance compared to PG.

Understanding 'monitoring' data-the association between measured stressors and athlete responses within a holistic basketball performance framework.

This study examined associations between cumulative training load, travel demands and recovery days with athlete-reported outcome measures (AROMs) and countermovement jump (CMJ) performance in professional basketball. Retrospective analysis was performed on data collected from 23 players (mean±SD: age = 24.7±2.5 years, height = 198.3±7.6 cm, body mass = 98.1±9.0 kg, wingspan = 206.8±8.4 cm) from 2018-2020 in the National Basketball Association G-League. Linear mixed models were used to describe variation in AROMs and CMJ data in relation to cumulative training load (previous 3- and 10-days), hours travelled (previous 3- and 10-day), days away from the team's home city, recovery days (i.e., no travel/minimal on-court activity) and individual factors (e.g., age, fatigue, soreness). Cumulative 3-day training load had negative associations with fatigue, soreness, and sleep, while increased recovery days were associated with improved soreness scores. Increases in hours travelled and days spent away from home over 10 days were associated with increased sleep quality and duration. Cumulative training load over 3 and 10 days, hours travelled and days away from home city were all associated with changes in CMJ performance during the eccentric phase. The interaction of on-court and travel related stressors combined with individual factors is complex, meaning that multiple athletes response measures are needed to understand fatigue and recovery cycles. Our findings support the utility of the response measures presented (i.e., CMJ and AROMs), but this is not an exhaustive battery and practitioners should consider what measures may best inform training periodization within the context of their environment/sport.

Vitamin D supplementation and body composition changes in collegiate basketball players: a 12-week randomized control trial.

Background: Vitamin D promotes bone and muscle growth in non-athletes, suggesting supplementation may be ergogenic in athletes. Our primary aim was to determine if modest Vitamin D supplementation augments favorable body composition changes (increased bone and lean mass and decreased fat mass) and performance in collegiate basketball players following 12 weeks of standardized training. Methods: Members of a men's and women's NCAA D1 Basketball team were recruited. Volunteers were randomized to receive either a weekly 4000 IU Vitamin D3 supplement (D3) or placebo (P) over 12 weeks of standardized pre-season strength training. Pre- and post-measurements included 1) serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D); 2) body composition variables (total body lean, fat, and bone mass) using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans and 3) vertical jump test to assess peak power output. Dietary intake was assessed using Food Frequency questionnaires. Main outcome measures included changes (∆: post-intervention minus pre-intervention) in 25(OH)D, body composition, and performance. Results: Eighteen of the 23 players completed the trial (8 females/10 males). Eight received the placebo (20 ± 1 years; 3 females) while ten received Vitamin D3 (20 ± 2 years; 5 females). Weekly Vitamin D3 supplementation induced non-significant increases (∆) in 25(OH)D (2.6 ± 7.2 vs. -3.5 ± 5.3 ng/mL; p = 0.06), total body bone mineral content (BMC) (73.1 ± 62.5 vs. 84.1 ± 46.5 g; p = 0.68), and total body lean mass (2803.9 ± 1655.4 vs. 4474.5 ± 11,389.8 g; p = 0.03), plus a non-significant change in body fat (-0.5 ± 0.8 vs. -1.1 ± 1.2%; p = 0.19) (Vitamin D3 vs. placebo supplementation groups, respectively). Pre 25(OH)D correlated with both Δ total fat mass (g) (r = 0.65; p = 0.003) and Δ total body fat% (r = 0.56; p = 0.02). No differences were noted in peak power output ∆ between the D3 vs. P group (-127.4 ± 335.4 vs. 50.9 ± 9 W; NS). Participants in the D3 group ingested significantly fewer total calories (-526.2 ± 583.9 vs. -10.0 ± 400 kcals; p = 0.02) than participants in the P group. Conclusions: Modest (~517 IU/day) Vitamin D3 supplementation did not enhance favorable changes in total body composition or performance, over 3 months of training, in collegiate basketball players. Weight training provides a robust training stimulus for bone and lean mass accrual, which likely predominates over isolated supplement use with adequate caloric intakes.

Ergo-Nutritional Intervention in Basketball: A Systematic Review.

Using nutritional supplements is a widespread strategy among basketball players to ensure the appropriate provision of energy and nutrients to avoid certain complaints. Particularly in basketball, there is no consensus on the type, quantity or form of use in which these supplements should be administered. Therefore, the main aim of this systematic review is to highlight the ergo-nutritional aids that may be effective in basketball. A structured search was carried out following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA®) guidelines in the Medline/PubMed and Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Scopus databases until 31 December 2021; no year restriction was applied to the search strategy. There were no filters applied to the basketball players' level, gender, race, or age to increase the power of the analysis. The results of this systematic review have shown that the effective dose of caffeine to enhance anaerobic performance and the feeling of vigorousness and energy ranges from 3 to 6 mg·kg-1, showing more positive effects when is supplemented 60-75 min before exercise in the morning and in test-based task. On the other hand, vitamin E (ranging from 200 to 268 mg), vitamin D (10,000 IU) and EPA (2 g) may have a potential role in recovery and wellness. The primary limitation of this study is the scarcity of studies related to nutritional supplementation in basketball players. However, a major strength is that this is the first systematic review describing what ergo-nutritional aids may be specifically helpful for basketball. Despite the need for future studies, certain nutritional supplements may have promising advantages for basketball (long-term supplementation of nitrates for recovery), whereas others (ß-alanine, sodium bicarbonate, and acute nitrate supplementation) might theoretically be regarded as not interesting for basketball, or even not recommended by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) as bovine colostrum.

Vitamin D in Basketball Players: Current Evidence and Future Directions.

CONTEXT: Despite growing interest in quantifying and correcting vitamin D inadequacy in basketball players, a critical synthesis of these data is yet to be performed to overcome the low generalizability of findings from individual studies. OBJECTIVE: To provide a comprehensive analysis of data in basketball pertaining to (1) the prevalence of vitamin D inadequacy; (2) the effects of vitamin D supplementation on 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentration (and its association with body composition), bone health, and performance; and (3) crucial aspects that warrant further investigation. DATA SOURCES: PubMed, MEDLINE, ERIC, Google Scholar, SCIndex, and ScienceDirect databases were searched. STUDY SELECTION: After screening, 15 studies were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 3. DATA EXTRACTION: The prevalence of vitamin D inadequacy, serum 25(OH)D, body composition, stress fractures, and physical performance were extracted. RESULTS: The pooled prevalence of vitamin D inadequacy for 527 basketball players in 14 studies was 77% (P < 0.001; 95% CI, 0.70-0.84). Supplementation with 4000 IU/d and 4000 IU/wk (absolute mean difference [AMD]: 25.39 nmol/L; P < 0.001; 95% CI, 13.44-37.33), as well as 10,000 IU/d (AMD: 100.01; P < 0.001; 95% CI, 70.39-129.63) vitamin D restored 25(OH)D to normal concentrations. Body composition data revealed inverse correlations between changes in serum 25(OH)D (from pre- to postsupplementation) and body fat (r = -0.80; very large). Data concerning positive impacts of vitamin D supplementation on bone health and physical performance remain sparse. CONCLUSION: The high proportion of vitamin D inadequacy underscores the need to screen for serum 25(OH)D in basketball players. Although supplementation restored vitamin D sufficiency, the beneficial effects on bone health and physical performance remain sparse. Adiposity can modulate 25(OH)D response to supplementation.