The effects of different exercise programmes on injury risk and explosive power in adolescent basketball players: A randomised controlled trial

This study analysed the effects of different exercise programmes on basketball players. Participants were randomly assigned to core stability (CSG), neuromuscular exercise (NEG) or control group (CG). Over 8 weeks, CSG performed core exercises, NEG neuromuscular exercises, and CG routine warm-ups. Assessments included the Functional Movement Screen (FMS), vertical jump (VJ), horizontal jump (HJ) and sprint tests. Post-test results showed improvements in deep squat, in-line lunge, shoulder mobility push-up, rotational mobility and FMS-total scores for CSG and NEG compared with CG (p<0.05). Post-test rotary stability scores were higher in CSG compared with NEG and CG, while active straight leg raise and trunk stability push-up scores were greater in CSG than CG (p<0.05). Both CSG and NEG showed improvements in VJ and sprint scores compared with CG (p<0.05). CSG improved in deep squat, trunk stability push-up, rotary stability and FMS-total scores compared with NEG and CG, while NEG had greater increases in VJ and sprint scores than CSG and CG (p<0.05). While core stability and neuromuscular exercises enhanced explosive power and FMS scores, suggesting a potential reduction in injury risk, the study did not directly measure injury incidence. Therefore, these exercises should be considered part of a broader injury prevention strategy.