Effects of intentional and light-stimulated conditions on squat jump performance in Japanese elite basketball players
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to compare squat jump (SJ) performance between an Intentional Jump Condition (IJC) and a Reactive Jump Condition (RJC) involving a response to a single light stimulus in elite basketball players. The study participants were 12 male elite basketball players belonging to Japan’s professional basketball league (B3 League). The participants performed SJ under two conditions, IJC and RJC; Jump Height (JH), Peak Force (PF), Peak Rate of Force Development (PRFD), and Average R FD (ARFD) were then recorded. The differences among each variable between the IJC and RJC were evaluated using a paired t-test. The results showed no significant differences between the IJC and RJC for JH, PF, and ARFD. In contrast, PRFD was significantly higher in the RJC compared to that in the IJC (p < .05). These results suggest that elite basketball players may possess neuromuscular control strategies that allow them to generate greater force in a shorter time during RJC without compromising on SJ performance. Therefore, our results suggest that SJ using a single light stimulus during RJC may serve as a useful method for evaluating the neuromuscular function of elite basketball players; moreover, this method may be an effective training technique aimed at improving explosive force production.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
References
Aagaard, P., Simonsen, E. B., Andersen, J. L., Magnusson, P., and Dyhre-Poulsen, P. (2002). Increased rate of force development and neural drive of human skeletal muscle following resistance training. J Appl Physiol., 93(4), 1318-1326. https://doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00283.2002 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00283.2002
Ben Abdelkrim, N., Chaouachi, A., Chamari, K., Chtara, M., and Castagna, C. (2010). Positional role and competitive-level differences in elite-level men's basketball players. J Strength Cond Res., 24(5), 1346-1355. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181cf7510 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181cf7510
Ben Abdelkrim, N., El Fazaa, S., and El Ati, J. (2007). Time-motion analysis and physiological data of elite under-19-year-old basketball players during competition. Br J Sports Med., 41(2), 69-75. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsm.2006.032318 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsm.2006.032318
Blazevich, A. J., and Babault, N. (2019). Post-activation potentiation versus post-activation performance enhancement in humans: historical perspective, underlying mechanisms, and current issues. Front Physiol., 10, 1359. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2019.01359 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2019.01359
Bloomfield, J., Polman, R., and O'Donoghue, P. (2007). Physical demands of different positions in FA Premier League soccer. J Sports Sci Med., 6(1), 63-70.
Bobbert, M. F., de Graaf, W. W., Jonk, J. N., and Richard Casius L. J. (2006). Explanation of the bilateral deficit in human vertical squat jumping. J Appl Physiol., 100(2), 493-499. https://doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00637.2005 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00637.2005
Bosco, C., Luhtanen, P., and Komi, P. V. (1983). A simple method for measurement of mechanical power in jumping. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol., 50(2), 273-282. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00422166 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00422166
Bosquet, L., Berryman, N., and Dupuy, O. (2009). A comparison of 2 optical timing systems designed to measure flight time and contact time during jumping and hopping. J Strength Cond Res., 23(9), 2660-2665. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181b1f4ff DOI: https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181b1f4ff
Cohen, J. (1988). Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences (2nd ed.). New York: Routledge Academic. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203771587 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203771587
Erčulj, F., Blas, M., and Bračič, M. (2010). Physical demands on young elite european female basketball players with special reference to speed, agility, explosive strength, and take-off power. J Strength Cond Res., 24(11), 2970-2978. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181e38107 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181e38107
Fernandez-Santos, J. R., Ruiz, J. R., Cohen, D. D., Gonzalez-Montesinos, J, L., and Castro-Pinero, J. (2015). Reliability and validity of tests to assess lower body muscular power in children. J Strength Cond Res., 29(8), 2277-2285. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000000864 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000000864
Fleddermann, M. T., and Zentgraf, K. (2018). Tapping the full potential? jumping performance of volleyball athletes in game-like situations. Front Psychol., 9, 1375. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01375 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01375
Fujisawa, Y., Inada, K., and Hayashi, R. (2026). Effect of light stimuli on squat jump performance: comparison of japanese university male track and field athletes and football players. Sci J Sport Perform., 5(2), 322-334. https://doi.org/10.55860/VPJQ1425 DOI: https://doi.org/10.55860/VPJQ1425
García, F., Vázquez-Guerrero, J., Castellano, J., Casals, M., and Schelling, X. (2020). Differences in physical demands between game quarters and playing positions on professional basketball players during official competition. J Sports Sci Med., 19(2), 256-263.
Haff, G. G., and Nimphius, S. (2012). Training principles for power. Strength Cond J., 34(6), 2-12. https://doi.org/10.1519/SSC.0b013e31826db467 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1519/SSC.0b013e31826db467
Haff, G. G., Ruben, R. P., Lider, J., Twine, C., and Cormie, P. (2015). A comparison of methods for determining the rate of force development during isometric midthigh clean pulls. J Strength Cond Res., 29(2), 386-395. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000000705 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000000705
Heishman, A. D., Daub, B. D., Miller, R. M., Freitas, E. D. S., Frantz, B. A., and Bemben, M. G. (2020). Countermovement jump reliability performed with and without an arm swing in NCAA division 1 intercollegiate basketball players. J Strength Cond Res., 34(2), 546-558. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000002812 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000002812
Hughes, G., Schutz-Bosbach, S., and Waszak, F. (2011). One action system or two? Evidence for common central preparatory mechanisms in voluntary and stimulus-driven actions. J Neurosci., 31(46), 16692-16699. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2256-11.2011 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2256-11.2011
Khamoui, A. V., Brown, L. E., Nguyen, D., Uribe, B, P., Coburn, J, W., Noffal, G, J., and Tran, T. (2011). Relationship between force-time and velocity-time characteristics of dynamic and isometric muscle actions. J Strength Cond Res., 25(1), 198-204. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181b94a7b DOI: https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181b94a7b
La Delfa, N. J., Garcia, D. B. L., Cappelletto, J. A. M., McDonald, A, C., Lyons, J, L., and Lee, T, D. (2013). The gunslinger effect: why are movements made faster when responding to versus initiating an action? J Mot Behav., 45(2), 85-90. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222895.2012.746283 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222895.2012.746283
Li, Q., Fu, Q., Li, L., and Wang, J. (2026). Cognitive-coordination training: impact on sport-specific physical fitness and technical skill of adolescent basketball athletes. Front Psychol., 16, 1669608. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1669608 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1669608
Mann, D. T. Y., Williams, A. M., Ward, P., and Janelle, C. (2007). Perceptual-cognitive expertise in sport: a meta-analysis. J Sport Exerc Psychol., 29(4), 457-478. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.29.4.457 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.29.4.457
Markovic, G., Dizdar, D., Jukic, I., and Cardinale, M. (2004). Reliability and factorial validity of squat and countermovement jump tests. J Strength Cond Res., 18(3), 551-555. https://doi.org/10.1519/00124278-200408000-00028 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1519/00124278-200408000-00028
Marques, M. C., Izquierdo, M., Marinho, D. A., Barbosa, T. M., Ferraz, R., and González-Badillo, J. J. (2015). Association between force-time curve characteristics and vertical jump performance in trained athletes. J Strength Cond Res., 29(7), 2045-2049. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000000739 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000000739
Mattes, S., and Ulrich, R. (1997). Response force is sensitive to the temporal uncertainty of response stimuli. Percept Psychophysics., 59(7), 1089-1097. https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03205523 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03205523
McInnes, S. E., Carlson, J. S., Jones, C. J. and McKenna, M. J. (1995). The physiological load imposed on basketball players during competition．J Sports Sci., 13(5), 387-397. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640419508732254 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02640419508732254
Mero, A., Komi, P. V., and Gregor, R. J. (1992). Biomechanics of sprint running: a review. Sports Med., 13, 376-392. https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-199213060-00002 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-199213060-00002
Nedelec, M., McCall, A., Carling, C., Legall, F., Berthoin, S., and Dupont, G. (2014). The influence of soccer-playing actions on recovery kinetics after a match. J Strength Cond Res., 28, 1517-1523. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000000293 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000000293
Ohji, S., and Aizawa, J. Y. (2026). Test-retest reliability of dual-task cost in neurocognitive single-leg hop and countermovement jump tests. Phys Ther Sport., 78, 101886. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ptsp.2026.01.001 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ptsp.2026.01.001
Petway, A. J., Freitas, T. T., Calleja-González, J., Medina Leal, D., and Alcaraz, P. E. (2020) Training load and match-play demands in basketball based on competition level: A systematic review. PLoS ONE., 15(3), e0229212. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0229212 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0229212
Roca, A., Ford, P. R., McRobert, A. P., and Mark Williams, A. (2013). Perceptual-cognitive skills and their interaction as a function of task constraints in soccer. J Sport Exerc Psychol., 35, 144-155. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.35.2.144 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.35.2.144
Scanlan, A., Dascombe, B., and Reaburn, P. (2011). A comparison of the activity demands of elite and sub-elite Australian men's basketball competition. J Sports Sci., 29(11), 1153-1160. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2011.582509 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2011.582509
Scanlan, A. T., Tucker, P. S., Dascombe, B. J., Berkelmans, D. M., Hiskens, M. I., and Dalbo, V. J. (2015). Fluctuations in activity demands across game quarters in professional and semiprofessional male basketball. J Strength Cond Res., 29(11), 3006-3015. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000000967 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000000967
Shalom, A., Levy, A., Meckel, Y., Calleja-Gonzalez, J., and Gottlieb, R. (2025). Integrating physical and cognitive approaches: A scoping review of advanced training methods in basketball. Acta Gymnica., 55, 1-12. https://doi.org/10.5507/ag.2025.012 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5507/ag.2025.012
Stone, M. H., Moir, G., Glaister, M., and Sanders, R. (2002). How much strength is necessary? Phys Ther Sport., 3(2), 88-96. https://doi.org/10.1054/ptsp.2001.0102 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1054/ptsp.2001.0102
Strobach, T. (2024). Cognitive control and meta-control in dual-task coordination. Psychon Bull Rev., 31(4), 1445-1460. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13423-023-02427-7 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/s13423-023-02427-7
Suchomel, T. J., Nimphius, S., and Stone, M. H. (2016). The importance of muscular strength in Athletic Performance. Sports Med., 46(10), 1419-1449. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-016-0486-0 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-016-0486-0
Taylor, J. B., Wright, A. A., Dischiavi, S. L., Townsend, M, A., and Marmon, A, R. (2017). Activity demands during multi-directional team sports: A systematic review. Sports Med., 47, 2533-2551. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-017-0772-5 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-017-0772-5
Thomas, C., Comfort, P., Chiang, C. Y., and Jones, P, A. (2015). Relationship between isometric mid-thigh pull variables and sprint and change of direction performance in collegiate athletes. J Trainol., 4(1), 6-10. https://doi.org/10.17338/trainology.4.1_6 DOI: https://doi.org/10.17338/trainology.4.1_6
Vivar, G. M., Quevedo, L., and Sillero-Quintana, M. (2025). Influence of unspecific visual-perceptual-cognitive task constraints on jump ability and reactive strength in federated soccer players. Eur J Neurosci., 61(2), e70002. https://doi.org/10.1111/ejn.70002 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/ejn.70002
Wakatsuki, T., and Yamada, N. (2020). Difference between intentional and reactive movement in side-steps: patterns of temporal structure and force exertion. Front Psychol., 11, 2186. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.02186 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.02186
Welchman, A. E., Stanley, J., Schomers, M. R., Miall, R, C., and Bülthoff, H, H. (2010). The quick and the dead: when reaction beats intention. Proc Biol Sci., 277(1688), 1667-1674. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2009.2123 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2009.2123
Weller, L., Kunde, W., and Pfister, R. (2018). Disarming the gunslinger effect: reaction beats intention for cooperative actions. Psychon Bull Rev., 25(2), 761-766. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13423-018-1462-5 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/s13423-018-1462-5
Wickens, C. D. (2008). Multiple resources and mental workload. Hum Factors, 50(3), 449-455. https://doi.org/10.1518/001872008X288394 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1518/001872008X288394
Wilson, G. J., Elliott, B. C., and Wood, G. A., (1991). The effect on performance of imposing a delay during a stretch-shorten cycle movement. Med Sci Sports Exerc., 23(3), 364-370. https://doi.org/10.1249/00005768-199103000-00016 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1249/00005768-199103000-00016
Yamauchi, J., and Ishii, N. (2007). Relations between force-velocity characteristics of the knee-hip extension movement and vertical jump performance. J Strength Cond Res., 21(3), 703-709. https://doi.org/10.1519/R-20516.1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1519/00124278-200708000-00009
Zhang, S., Li, M., Xing, W., Zheng, W., and Zhai, Z. (2026). Effects of player characteristics and periodization strategies on external and internal loads, wellness, and recovery in collegiate male basketball players. J Strength Cond Res., 40(5), e472-e478. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000005372 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000005372
Ziv, G., and Lidor, R. (2010). Vertical jump in female and male basketball players--a review of observational and experimental studies. J Sci Med Spor., 13(3), 332-339. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2009.02.009 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2009.02.009