Affiliations: [a] Department of Sports Medicine, Faculty of Medicine,
Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey | [b] Centre For Rehabilitation Science, Arthritis Research
UK, Manchester University, Manchester, UK | [c] Department of Orthopaedic and Traumatology, Faculty of
Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
Note: [] Corresponding author: Defne Kaya, Department of Sports Medicine,
Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, 06100, Sihhiye, Ankara, Turkey.
Tel./Fax: +90 312 305 1347; E-mail: defne@hacettepe.edu.tr
Abstract: Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the relationship
between the free-throw percentage, joint position sense, and muscle torque in
professional basketball players. Methods: Eleven professional basketball
players participated in the study, with each subject acting as their own
internal control by using the non-dominant side. Knee and shoulder joint of the
players were evaluated bilaterally. Flexion and extension peak torque of the
knee were evaluated isokinetically system. In addition
flexion/abduction/external rotation (F/ABD/ER) and extension/adduction/
internal rotation (E/ADD/IR) diagonal pattern peak torque of the shoulder were
measured. The joint position sense of both knees and shoulders were evaluated
using an active angle reproduction. Thirty, 45, 60 and 75° target
angles were used for knee and 160, 135, and 120° target angles were
used shoulder. The free-throw percentage of the players for 40~matches in the
2009–2010 season was taken from the Turkish Basketball League official
website. The relationship between the peak torque of the muscles, joint
position sense, and the free-throw percentage was evaluated. Results: There were no significant differences in the peak torques of the knee and
shoulder muscles and joint position sense between the dominant and non-dominant
sides (p> 0.05). There was a significant correlation between the
free-throw percentage and the peak torque of the shoulder muscles during the
F/ABD/ER pattern at 60°/s in the dominant side of the players. There
was a borderline trend to significance between the free-throw percentage and
the shoulder joint position sense (eyes-closed and at 160°) in the
dominant side. There was a borderline significant correlation between the
free-throw percentage and the knee joint position sense (eyes-open and at 75°) in the dominant side. Conclusions: The effect of proprioceptive and strengthening exercises on the free-throw percentage is
still unknown. Further comprehensive studies are warranted to analyze the
effect of proprioceptive and strengthening exercises on the free-throw
percentage in elite basketball players.
Keywords: Free-throw, peak torque, joint position sense, knee, shoulder, basketball
