The effects of repeated sprints on mid-range and three-point jump shot biomechanics in elite basketball players

Abstract

Background. In basketball, fatigue is a prevalent physiological state that significantly influences shooting mechanics. This study discusses the difference of kinematic parameters of mid-range and long-range basketball players before and after the onset of fatigue, providing a comprehensive analysis of how fatigue affects shooting performance at these distances. Methods. This study involved 12 collegiate male basketball players of at least level I athlete status. Blood lactate levels, subjective exercise fatigue scores, and heart rate variability were used as indices for assessing fatigue. Kinematic data during basketball shooting were collected by inertia motion capture system (Xsens technologies BV, The Netherlands) and a high-speed camera (Sony, Tokyo, Japan). Differences in kinematic parameters between pre- and fatigue conditions during middle and long-range shooting were analyzed using a paired sample T-test. Results. After fatigue, the shooting percentage of middle distance had no significant decrease compared with that before fatigue (P > 0.05), while the shooting percentage of long distance had a significant decrease (P < 0.05). In the fatigue state, significant decreases in the angular velocity of the wrist (P < 0.01) and elbow (P < 0.05) were recorded, while an increase was noted in the knee joint’s angular velocity (P < 0.05). For long-range shots, there was a significant reduction in wrist angular velocity (P < 0.01), with marked increases in the angular velocities of the ankle (P < 0.01), knee (P < 0.01), and elbow (P < 0.05). Conclusion. Fatigue has no significant effect on the shooting percentages for mid-range jump shots among elite collegiate athletes; however, it substantially reduced the success rate of long-range jump shots. This decline in performance led to reductions in both the shooting angle and incident angle, as well as the extension of shooting time. Fatigue can compromise the effectiveness of force transfer from the lower to upper extremities. Long-distance shooting requires exceptional lower limb explosive power and precise neuromuscular synchronization.