Effect of Six Weeks of Neuromuscular Warm up Program on Injury Incidence and Functional Movement Screen Scores in Male Basketball Players Disposed to Injury

Injury is an inseparable part of athletic trainings and competitions and athletes are always subject to the risk of injury. The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of six weeks of neuromuscular warm up program on the scores of injury incidence and functional movement screen in male basketball players disposed to injury in Iran Basketball Super League.

A total of 50 basketball players prone to injury were identified in a Functional Movement Screen (Age 25.33 years, high 197.56 cm, Weight 97.1 Kg, BMI 24.59) and divided into two groups of control and experimental. Experimental group performed six weeks of neuromuscular exercises while control group only performed conventional team exercises. In the end, similar pre-season and pre-test Functional Movement Screen tests were administered and also injury reports of players prone to injury were examined. Data analysis was done using t test and repeated measures of ANOVA test.

The results of the present study showed that protocol of neuromuscular exercise, in comparison to control group, had a significant effect on decreasing injury in upper extremity, waist, central body (P=0.500), and lower extremity (P=0.001). Investigating scores of the three step tests of pre-season competitions, pre-test, and post-test after six weeks of neuromuscular exercises showed that these exercises increased scores of Functional Movement Screen more than conventional exercises did.

Functional Movement Screen can be used to identify players prone to injury in pre-season and even mid-season competitions. Also, use and implementation of neuromuscular exercises might help to decrease probability of injury incidence in identified individuals disposed to injury and increase Functional Movement Screen scores.