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Sport Medicine

Abstract

International Journal of Exercise Science 14(6): 768-778, 2021. This paper examines the effect of match–induced fatigue on lower limb biomechanics, in the case of a basketball game. For this purpose, sixteen male basketball athletes, ages 18 to 22, performed a jump-landing task prior and post a recreational basketball game. The Landing Error Scoring System (LESS) was used to examine the biomechanics of landing. The Vertical jump (VJ) and the Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) scale pre- and post-game were employed to assess the level of fatigue induced by the basketball game. In order to compare pre and post measurements, t-tests for dependent samples were used. The performance of the VJ test post-game was found to be significantly lower (t (15) = 3.83, p = 0.002) showing a large effect (Cohen’s d = 0.9) compared to pre-game measurements. Further, the LESS scores were significantly (t (15) = 2.33, p = 0.034) higher post-game with a medium effect (d = 0.5). The differences in LESS scores were due to errors in the landing technique which is bound to be influenced by biomechanics. Moreover, the Borg RPE scale was found to be significantly higher (t (15) = 10.77, p < 0.001) post-game showing a very large effect (d =2.6). It is important to note, that these significant differences occurred with a merely medium level of fatigue (6.6 ± 0.3 pre-game vs 11.9 ± 1.0 post-game). The results of this study would be of great benefit to sports science teams and coaches for formulating effective strategies to improve athletes’ performance and reduce the likelihood of injury.

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