Neuromuscular Warm-Ups and Lower-Limb Injury Risk: A 12-Week Pilot Study in Female Youth Basketball

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Biomechanics
• Injury Prevention

Background:

• Lower-limb injuries are prevalent in female youth basketball.
• Neuromuscular warm-up programs (NMWPs) show potential for injury risk reduction.
• Understanding force-time characteristics is crucial for assessing injury risk.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of a 12-week NMWP on force-time variables during countermovement jumps (CMJ) and drop jumps (DJ).
• To examine the association between changes in force-time variables and modifiable lower-limb injury risk factors.
• To evaluate the impact of NMWP on jump performance and biomechanical adaptations in female youth basketball players.

Main Methods:

• A 12-week pilot study with a repeated-measures design involving 13 female youth basketball players.
• Participants were divided into an experimental group (EG) performing NMWP and a control group (CG) performing a generalized dynamic warm-up.
• Force-time data from CMJ and DJ actions were collected pre and post intervention using force plates.

Main Results:

• The EG demonstrated significantly greater improvements in mean and peak propulsive power during CMJ compared to the CG.
• Significant improvements were observed in the EG for mean propulsive force, mean and peak propulsive power, reactive strength index, and net propulsive impulse during DJ.
• NMWP led to favorable biomechanical adaptations relevant to lower-limb injury risk.

Conclusions:

• A 3-month NMWP can yield meaningful enhancements in CMJ and DJ force-time characteristics and jump strategies.
• These improvements suggest positive biomechanical adaptations that may reduce lower-limb injury risk in young female athletes.
• NMWPs represent a promising intervention for injury prevention in youth basketball.