Abstract

The function movements are complex movements, involving the body‘s kinetic linking system, i.e. interacting of interdependent body segments. Basketball players perform many and various functional movements involving body‘s kinetic chain. The function movement screen is a testing tool to assess fundamental human movement pattern; its impairment can affect a person‘s movement restriction. These tests are also used in sport to predict possible musculoskeletal injuries, or to prevent re-injury. The purpose of the research is to evaluate the relationship between physical load frequency and functional movement, as well as to determine potential injury risk of basketball players. Thirty two basketball players took part in the research. The athletes were divided into two groups according to the total number of weekly training and competition participated. The first group of athletes (16 basketball players) consisted of moderately active athletes, who trained and participated in competition 2-4 times a week (the average age was 22,5 ± 1,4). The second group (16 basketball players) consisted of very active athletes, who trained and participated in competition 7-14 times a week (the average age was 21,2 ± 0,7). The groups were homogeneous by age, body composition index and training experience. Questionnaire survey, anthropometric measurement, functional movement screen, modified star excursion balance test were applied in the research. Arithmetic average and standard deviation were calculated. The nonparametric Mann-Whitney test was used to compare independent samples. To assess the reliability of statistical hypotheses the level of significance was set at p < 0,05. The correlation was determined by applying Spearman correlation coefficient. The research revealed that quality of the functional movement performance had not depended on the athlete’s physical load frequency. The results of the functional movement screen and the modified star excursion balance tests demonstrated that very active athletes (second group) didn‘t show a better result in comparison to moderately active athletes (first group) except the long jump. The second group basketball players demonstrated 12,1 cm longer jump in comparison to the first group. The data of both analysed groups revealed statistically significant positive correlation between the frequency of activities and the long jump score (r = 0,334, p = 0,046), as well as between the modified star excursion balance test and the long jump (r = 0,381, p = 0,032). It was also noticed that almost half of the analysed basketball players increased injury risk: according to the functional movement screen results – 40,6 % , according to the modified star excursion balance test – 50 %.