A Narrative Review of the Dominant Physiological Energy Systems in Basketball and the Importance of Specificity and Uniqueness in Measuring Basketball Players

Abstract

Basketball playing entails the repetitive performance of short intense actions using lower limb explosive power. As such, it is important to measure this capability in basketball players, especially among young players, and to optimize training programs and game plans. After presenting an in-depth understanding of the specific physiological requirements when playing basketball, as well as the type of movements required, the aim of this review is to better understand the importance of the physiological energy systems in basketball, to examine the contribution of each energy system and, accordingly, to heighten awareness of the importance and dominance of the alactic anaerobic physiological system in basketball for actions requiring high-level explosive power. This review of the literature depicts the horizontal and vertical physical movements and physiological requirements entailed in playing basketball and presents eight standardized anaerobic alactic measurement tools relevant to the game. As some of these tests suit a number of ball games, the findings of this review article are important for making the order of the elements unique to basketball as well as additional parameters to consider when testing basketball players. By reliably and validly testing the anaerobic alactic capabilities of basketball players, test results can be used for training purposes and for improving game outcomes. Despite the fact that much of the information in this review is familiar to coaches, highlighting the specific needs of basketball will help them choose the most suitable tools and also shed light on new directions for developing basketball-specific assessment tests.