Effects of Drop Jump During Warm-up on Athletic Performance and Ankle Stability in Young Basketball Players

Effects of Drop Jump During Warm-up on Jumping Ability, Sprint Performance and Ankle Landing Stability: A Randomized Controlled Study

Youth basketball is a sport that requires high levels of power and speed. Regardless of the competitive level, young athletes undergo rigorous training to enhance their coordination, neuromuscular reactivity, jump height, and sprint speed. Each youth basketball player voluntarily underwent testing at the same sports facility after reading and signing the informed consent document (provided by parents or legal guardians). During the first session, general anthropometric information was collected on all participants (age, weight, and height), followed by an assessment of athletic performance and stability parameters. For the vertical jump performance parameters, the Counter Movement Jump test (CMJ) was used through an optical detecting system. A pressure platform was used to measure ankle stability during the landing phase using a single-leg jump protocol, while acceleration performance was evaluated via a 10-meter sprint test. Subsequently, participants were randomly divided into two groups: an experimental group (EG) and a control group (CG). The EG performed a Drop Jump protocol at the end of warm-up, consisting of three sets of 5 repetitions, with a 3-minute rest period between sets, for a total duration of 8 weeks. At the end of the eight weeks, all measurements regarding the evaluated outcomes (vertical jump height, CMJ, landing ankle stability, and 10-meter sprint) were repeated for both groups.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Active participation in competitive training programs (at least 7 hours per week), at least one year of experience in competitions organized by the Italian Basketball Federation, and no recent injuries.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Presence of current or not fully recovered injuries to the ankle or foot, and irregular participation in training sessions within the three weeks preceding the study.