Faulks T, Sansone P, Walter S. A Systematic Review of Lower Limb Strength Tests Used in Elite Basketball.
Sports (Basel) 2024;
12:262. [PMID:
39330739 PMCID:
PMC11435599 DOI:
10.3390/sports12090262]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2024] [Revised: 08/16/2024] [Accepted: 08/26/2024] [Indexed: 09/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Basketball players rely on their lower limb strength for speed and agility. Therefore, it is important for strength and conditioning coaches to seek methods to assess and develop lower limb strength.
OBJECTIVES
This study aimed to identify tests and variables used to assess lower body strength among elite basketball players and to provide normative values for the commonly used strength tests.
METHODS
A review of PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, and SPORTDiscus was performed following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines. The risk of bias was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute cross-sectional and cohort checklists.
RESULTS
Among the twelve reviewed studies, seven strength tests and five outcome variables were used. The most frequently used lower limb strength tests were the back squat (nine studies) and isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP) (three studies), both reporting one repetition maximum (1RM) and peak force metrics. The most frequently used lower limb strength test was the back squat among males and IMTP among females.
CONCLUSIONS
Among elite basketball players, the back squat 1RM is the most used lower limb strength test. However, across studies, a large variability was evidenced, which suggests that lower limb testing procedures are heterogeneous in this population.
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