Anaerobic glycolytic drills elicited significantly greater oxygen consumption compared to mostly aerobic drills (3.9 vs 2.1 l/min) in female basketball players.
Do different training intensities elicit distinct cardiovascular and respiratory responses in female basketball players?
Anaerobic glycolytic drills elicit the highest cardiovascular and respiratory demands in female basketball players, and heart rate and ventilation can reliably predict oxygen consumption for field-based monitoring.
Effect estimate: Cohen's d 1.35
Absolute Event Rate: 3.9% vs 2.1%
p-value: p=<0.001
Background and Study Aim. Basketball is characterized by high-intensity, intermittent efforts that require rapid transitions between aerobic and anaerobic metabolism. Monitoring physiological responses across training intensities is essential to optimize conditioning strategies, manage workloads, and improve player performance. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of training with differentiated intensity on the complex cardiovascular and respiratory responses of female basketball players. Material and Methods. Thirty-two female university-level basketball players (age: 24.1 ± 3.4 years; height: 156.4 ± 6.2 cm) with ≥5 years of structured training participated. Four controlled training conditions were randomized: mostly aerobic, mixed aerobic–anaerobic, anaerobic glycolytic, and anaerobic alactate drills. Heart rate (HR) was continuously monitored using the Sunfox Spandan Pro electrocardiography (ECG) system. Expired gases were analyzed via Douglas bags and a calibrated gas meter to determine oxygen consumption (VO₂), carbon dioxide production (VCO₂), pulmonary ventilation (VE), oxygen pulse, and oxygen debt. Data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA), multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA), Bonferroni post-hoc tests, Pearson correlations, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), and linear regression modeling. Results. Progressive increases in VO₂, HR, VE, and oxygen debt were observed from aerobic to anaerobic glycolytic drills (p 0.80). MANOVA confirmed significant multivariate differences (Wilks’ Lambda = 0.42, p 0.85) confirmed measurement reliability. Conclusions. Controlled basketball drills elicit distinct physiological responses depending on intensity. Anaerobic glycolytic efforts produce the highest demands. HR and VE provide reliable predictors of VO₂ and offer practical tools for field-based monitoring. However, the controlled design may not fully capture the unpredictability of live competition. This highlights the need for complementary training approaches that integrate situational and tactical elements.
Rajpoot et al. (Thu,) conducted a other in Healthy female basketball players (n=32). Anaerobic glycolytic drills vs. Mostly aerobic drills was evaluated on Oxygen consumption (VO2) (Cohen's d 1.35, p=<0.001). Anaerobic glycolytic drills elicited significantly greater oxygen consumption compared to mostly aerobic drills (3.9 vs 2.1 l/min) in female basketball players.