TOO FAT TO FLY: BODY COMPOSITION AND VERTICAL JUMP PERFORMANCE IN BASKETBALL ATHLETES

Authors

Madeline R. Klubertanz, University of Southern MississippiFollow
Claire A. Applegate, University of Southern MississippiFollow
Minali G. Patton, University of Southern MississippiFollow
Juilana Moore, University of Southern MississippiFollow
Abby Compton, University of Southern MississippiFollow
Sydney Swafford, University of Southern MississippiFollow
Austin J. Graybeal, University of Southern MississippiFollow
Paul T. Donahue, University of Southern MississippiFollow

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Both vertical jump performance and body composition have been shown to distinguish between levels of competition in basketball athletes. While previous investigations have demonstrated relationships between body composition and vertical jump height using various measurement techniques, limited data has been presented using gold standard measurements for both body composition and vertical jump performance. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between absolute measures of body composition and vertical jump performance using gold standard measurements in collegiate male basketball athletes. METHODS:14 male Division I collegiate basketball athletes participated in this investigation (age 22.42 ± 1.05 years, height 187.89 ± 7.83 cm, body mass 89.47 ± 13.49 kg). With a PVC dowel (<1.0 kg) placed across the upper back in a high bar squat position, participants completed 3 countermovement jumps separated by 30 seconds of rest. All jump trials were performed using a force platform, sampling at 2400 Hz. Absolute and relative measures of total and appendicular body composition were analyzed using DXA. All testing was performed on the same day at the beginning of the final training block of the offseason. Pearson Product Moment Correlations were used to determine the relationship between jump performance and body composition measures. RESULTS: Large negative relationships (r = - -0.55 - -0.67, p < 0.05) were seen between total body lean and fat mass, lower extremity lean and fat mass, and reactive strength index modified (RSImod) values. Large positive relationships (r = 0.55 - 0.64, p < 0.05) were present between absolute values of lean and fat mass and time to take off. Though not significant, large negative relationships were seen been lower extremity absolute mass values and jump height (-0.51, p = 0.06). No significant relationships were seen between braking and propulsive force production and measures of body composition. CONCLUSIONS: The novel findings of this investigation are in regard to the relationship between absolute mass values and time to take off. This in combination with the findings of the inverse relationship between jump height and mass values, explains the significant negative relationship between body composition and RSImod.

Recommended Citation

Klubertanz, Madeline R.; Applegate, Claire A.; Patton, Minali G.; Moore, Juilana; Compton, Abby; Swafford, Sydney; Graybeal, Austin J.; and Donahue, Paul T. (2024) "TOO FAT TO FLY: BODY COMPOSITION AND VERTICAL JUMP PERFORMANCE IN BASKETBALL ATHLETES," International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings: Vol. 16: Iss. 3, Article 196.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijesab/vol16/iss3/196