title: Lower limb maximal dynamic strength and agility determinants in elite basketball players.
abstract: The aims of this study were to examine the relationship between squat 1 repetition maximum (1RM) and basketball-relevant tests and the variables that influence agility (T-test) in elite male professional basketball players (n = 14, age 23.3 +/- 2.7 years, height 195.6 +/- 8.3 cm, body mass 94.2 +/- 10.2 kg). T-test performance was significantly related to body mass (r = 0.58, p = 0.03) and to percentage of body fat (r = 0.80, p < 0.001). A significant negative correlation was observed between t-test and 5-jump test performance (r = -0.61, p = 0.02). Squat 1RM was significantly related to 5-, 10-, and 30-m sprint times. Stepwise correlation analysis showed percentage of body fat was the best single predictor factor (p < 0.05) of agility. Squat 1RM performance was the best single predictor of 5-m and 10-m sprint times (p < 0.05). In light of the present study's findings, agility should be regarded as a per se physiological ability for elite basketball players. Consequently, basketball-specific agility drills should be stressed in elite basketball training. Given the association between squat 1RM performance and short sprint times, squat exercises should be a major component of basketball conditioning.
authors.affiliation: Research Unit Evaluation, Sport, Santé, National Center of Medicine and Science in Sports, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Anis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chaouachi
authors.forename: Matt
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brughelli
authors.forename: Karim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chamari
authors.forename: Greg T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Levin
authors.forename: Nidhal
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ben Abdelkrim
authors.forename: Louis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Laurencelle
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Castagna
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D001490:Basketball / Q000502:physiology*; D050218:Body Fat Distribution; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005080:Exercise Test; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*