The purpose of this study was to classify basketball players into three groups (Variable Resistance Training group, Constant Resistance Training group, and Basketball Training group) and to compare the effects of an eight-week training program on gene...
The purpose of this study was to classify basketball players into three groups (Variable Resistance Training group, Constant Resistance Training group, and Basketball Training group) and to compare the effects of an eight-week training program on general physical fitness, basketball-specific skills, and knee joint isokinetic muscle function. The goal was to provide scientific evidence for developing an effective and systematic strength training strategy tailored to basketball athletes. Thirty basketball players were randomly assigned to three groups: the Variable Resistance Training group (VRT, n=10), the Constant Resistance Training group (CRT, n=10), and the Basketball Training group (BT, n=10). Each group followed its respective training program for eight weeks. After the intervention, assessments were conducted for general physical fitness (CMJ performance: peak power, jump height, and RSI-mod; NBA 3/4 court sprint), basketball-specific skills (Agility T-test, Edgren Side-Step Test, and Basketball Slalom Dribble Test), and knee joint isokinetic muscle function (peak torque, peak power, and time to peak torque at 60°/s and 120°/s)were assessed before and after the training program. The main findings are as follows. 1. regarding general physical fitness, both the VRT and CRT groups showed significant improvements in CMJ peak power, with the VRT group showing a significantly greater increase compared to the BT group. The 3/4 court sprint time also improved significantly in both the VRT and CRT groups, with the VRT group demonstrating a significant interaction effect compared to the BT group. 2. in terms of basketball-specific skill performance, the VRT group showed a significant improvement in the Basketball Slalom Dribble Test, which was also significantly greater than that of the BT group, with a significant interaction effect observed. 3. regarding knee joint isokinetic muscle function, at an angular velocity of 60°/s, both the VRT and CRT groups exhibited significant increases in peak torque of the knee extensors and flexors, with a significant interaction effect observed for the extensors. At 120°/s, both the VRT and CRT groups showed significant improvements in peak torque of the knee extensors, with a significant interaction effect. In addition, only the VRT group demonstrated significant enhancements in the peak torque of the knee flexors and the peak power of the knee extensors at 120°/s. In conclusion, both variable resistance training and constant resistance training led to significant improvements in CMJ peak power and 3/4 court sprint performance in basketball players following an eight-week intervention. In contrast, improvements in the Basketball Slalom Dribble Test and knee flexor peak torque under high angular velocity conditions (120°/s) were observed only in the variable resistance training group. Keywords:Variable Resistance Training, Constant Resistance Training, General Physical Performance, Basketball Skill Performance, Isokinetic Strength