MUSCLE TORQUE OF MALE BASKETBALL PLAYERS PLAYING AT DIFFERENT FLOOR POSITIONS

Abstract

The aim of this study was the investigation of muscle torque for male basketball players playing at different floor positions. The study were carried out on 44 male basketball players belonging to the Polish national team. The mean characteristics (±SD) of the group were as follows: age 22.4±3.1 years, body mass 88.5±8.7 kg, body height 197.4±8.1 cm, duration of training 9.5±3.3 years. They were divided into 3 groups: wings, guards, centers. Muscle torque measurements in static conditions were performed. Eleven muscle groups were studied: flexors and extensors of trunk, flexors and extensors of shoulder, elbow, hip, knee and ankle joints. The lowest results for muscle torque were recorded for guards (Table 1.). The highest results for muscle torque were recorded for wings. Significant differences between wings and guards, centers and guards were observed only for elbow flexors, shoulder flexors, for trunk flexors and extensors and for the sums of 11 muscle groups. No significant differences were found between wings and centers. When the results were calculated per body mass no significant differences between guards, wings and centers were observed. There were no significant differences between guards, wings and centers in muscle torque topography. No significant correlations between torque and body mass were found in any of the groups. From our study we conclude that there are no significant differences between basketball players playing different positions. The differences between the players at different play positions depend on body height: high players - wings and centers, low players - guards.