Transforming performance: The impact of an 8-week complex training program on strength, power, and change of direction in female basketball athletes

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to investigate the effect of complex training on the strength, power, and change of direction (COD) performance of college female basketball athletes. Methods: This design used experimental and randomized studies. A total of 32 female basketball players volunteered to participate in this study and were randomly allocated to a complex training group (CT group: n = 16) and a resistance training group (RT group: n = 16). The CT group performed CT and the RT group completed RT for 8 weeks. The CT and RT programs were developed based on the linear periodization theory, which required participants to train 2 times a week in the first 4 weeks and 3 times a week in the following 4 weeks. All participants were tested using the 5-0-5 COD test, Illinois agility test (IAT), one-repetition maximum back squat (1RM BS) test, and countermovement jump (CMJ) test before and after the 8-week training period. Results: Two-way repeated measure ANOVA showed a significant group × time interaction for the 5-0-5 COD, IAT, 1RM BS, and CMJ results after the intervention compared with that before the intervention (P < .05) in the CT group (effect size = 0.86–4.04). CT compared with RT caused remarkably larger enhancements in the IAT (P < .001) and CMJ (P = .040) scores. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that the implementation of CT could be a promising and innovative intervention for enhancing the strength, power, and COD performance of female basketball players.