Study on How Pre-Workout Supplements Affect Shooting Accuracy in Trained Basketball Players

The Effect of Acute Pre-Workout Supplementation on Shooting Accuracy in Well-Trained Basketball Players

Basketball is a popular team sport where athletes score points by successfully shooting the ball into the basket. Accuracy in shooting is crucial for players to score points effectively. Pre-workout supplements (PWS) have garnered interest from athletes and fitness enthusiasts due to the purported synergistic action of their ingredients which, when consumed before training, may help improve athletic performance. The acute effect of PWS or similar on the shooting accuracy of basketball athletes has not yet been investigated. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the acute effect of a caffeine-based PWS (containing caffeine, creatine, β-alanine, citrulline malate, and BCAAs) on the stationary free throw, two-point, and three-point shooting accuracy in basketball players.

According to a randomized, double-blind, crossover, research design, 12 active and well-trained male basketball players will be recruited. The sample will participate in three treatments: 1) no supplement; 2) PWS and 3) Placebo (PL). Three field-based basketball shooting tests (stationary free throw, stationary two-point, and three-point shots) will be performed to assess shooting accuracy . During the first visit, participants who met the inclusion criteria will visit our laboratory for health assessment/ screening. At the same time, after receiving a detailed verbal explanation and written instructions from our team's registered nutritionist, participants will be advised to follow the exact same diet one day before the subsequent trials, one week apart. During the second visit, all participants will arrive at the basketball court to execute the shooting tests in the following order: 1) the stationary free throw shooting test (S1P), 2) the stationary two-point shooting test (S2P), and 3) the stationary three-point shooting test (S3P). One week later, during the third visit, all players will return to the same basketball court. They will receive a single dose either PWS or PL 30 minutes prior to the evaluations. Participants and researchers will all blinded as to the type of supplement consumed. Following that, they will complete the same measurements in the same order as in the second visit. A week later all procedures will be repeated, and participants will receive the alternative supplement depending on randomization.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Male participants, 18+
2. Absence of drugs, abuse or medications, which are known to affect the shooting accuracy

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Restraining orthopedic/neuromuscular issues
2. Caffeine hypersensitivity
3. Consumption of more than three servings of coffee per day
4. Use of any supplement or steroids prior to the study
5. Use of creatine, β-alanine, citrulline malate or BCAA-protein supplementation at least six months before the initiation of the study