Enhancing Basketball performance : A narrative review

Soham Kulkarni1*, Shrirang Tatte2

1Independent researcher, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
*Email: sohamkulkarni2909@gmail.com
2Assistant Professor, DY Patil (Deemed to Be University), Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra.

Abstract

Basketball is a high-intensity, intermittent team sport that demands a unique blend of technical skill, tactical awareness, and physical conditioning. This narrative review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of basketball by exploring its key characteristics, physiological and biomechanical demands, common injury patterns, and evidence-based recommendations for performance enhancement and injury prevention. The sport requires frequent bursts of acceleration, deceleration, jumping, and directional changes, which place significant stress on both the cardiovascular and musculoskeletal systems. Biomechanically, actions such as shooting, dribbling, and defensive movements necessitate refined neuromuscular coordination and joint stability, particularly in the lower limbs. Consequently, players are at risk of various acute and overuse injuries, with the ankle, knee, and lower back being the most commonly affected regions. This review also discusses structured training approaches designed to optimize athletic performance while mitigating injury risk. A sample training program is presented, integrating components of power, strength, stability, and core, tailored to the specific demands of basketball. The findings of this review serve as a practical resource for coaches, sports scientists, and athletic trainers aiming to develop holistic, evidence-informed training interventions for basketball athletes.
Keywords: Basketball, need analysis, physiological demands, biomechanical demands, injury risks, athlete development, training, performance enhancement.

Cite the article: Soham Kulkarni & Shrirang Tatte (2025). Enhancing Basketball performance : A narrative review. International Journal of Law, Education, Social and Sports Studies, 12(2),61-68. https://doi.org/10.33329/ijless.12.2.61