Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39980863›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology2025

Stiffness characteristics of the lower extremities in Women's Chinese Basketball Association competition athletes: normative values and position differences.

Dan Wang, Zhihai Wang, Mingming Yang, Kaiyuan Qu, Xinyu Mao, Xin Yang, Zhiye Zhang, Che Shao, Eamonn Delahunt, Wenxuan Fang

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Article in Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

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2citing papers in PubMed
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2 citing papers in PubMed.

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Dan WangSchool of Athletic Performance, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China.
Zhihai WangSchool of Athletic Performance, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China.
Mingming YangSchool of Athletic Performance, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China.
Kaiyuan QuSchool of Athletic Performance, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China.
Xinyu MaoSchool of Athletic Performance, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China.
Xin YangSchool of Athletic Performance, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China.
Zhiye ZhangSchool of Acupuncture and Massage, Health Preservation and Rehabilitation, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China.
Che ShaoSchool of Athletic Performance, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China.
Eamonn DelahuntSchool of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Wenxuan FangSchool of Athletic Performance, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Purpose: Higher stiffenss is expected to augment performance by increasing the utilisation of elastic energy. However, excessive lower extremity stiffness increases the risk of bony injuries; while insufficient stiffness is associated with a higher likelihood of soft tissue injuries. Thus, there might be an 'optimal' stiffness value or range that allows for maximising athletic performance while simultaneously minimising risk of sports injury. Basketball players can be classified by position as centres, guards and forwards, with each position characterised by specific injury risks and exercise patterns. Therefore, this study aims to establish normative data for lower extremity stiffness characteristics of players in the Women's Chinese Basketball Association (WCBA) and compare the characteristics based on position. Methods: A total of 124 WCBA athletes (over 70% of the WCBA teams) were recruited for this study, including 63 forwards, 22 centres and 39 guards. Stiffness was evaluated before and during the 2020-2021 WCBA season, which was averaged for data analysis. Quasi-static stiffness measurements of muscles and tendons were collected via a handheld myometer on seven sites of each leg. Vertical stiffness was also evaluated by OptoGait system. Results: Descriptive statistics were used to establish the normative values of stiffness for forwards, centres and guards. The Kruskal Wallis test and Conclusion: Forwards, centres and guards were characterised by significantly different stiffness values, which could be utilised for improvement of athletic performance and injury prevention.

Indexed as

athletic injuriesathletic performancebiomechanical phenomenastiffnesswomen’s basketball

Identifiers

PMID39980863
PMCPMC11839671

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.