Match analysis and possible implications on injuries in basketball

Video match analysis is used to assess physical performance of basketball players. 15 matches of a Italian 'Serie-A' team were video analyzed during the 2010-2011 season. The aims of this study were i) to analyze player performances and differences among roles, and ii) correlating movement patterns with injuries. The movements on the basket pitch of 2 Plays, 3 Guards, 4 Forwards and 2 Centers were monitored throughout all matches using a semiautomatic system (K-Sport, Italy). Both time spent accelerating (>1m•s-2 for positive, <-1m•s-2 for and negative accelerations; >3m•s-2 for positive, <-3m•s-2 for negative high intensity accelerations) and number of changes of direction (CdD) were calculated and averaged (±DS). A Multivariate Analysis of Variance was performed to compare role differences. On average, players spent 22.8±0.7% of the game time accelerating with Plays performing significantly more accelerations (23.8%) than other roles. Average number of CdD were 1063±48 each match, with Guards performing significantly more CdD than other roles. Therefore, Plays and Guards are the most demanding roles; this could partly explain the higher number of injuries occurred to these players compared to the players of other roles. The analysis of the time spent accelerating at high intensity by a single Guard who incurred in a muscular injury revealed it was about 300% higher than the rest of the team. This suggests the possible correlation between specific movement patterns and risk of injuries. In conclusion, identifying movement patterns may be essential in prescribing specific training for each role and reducing the injury risk.