The Effects of Chiropractic Care Combine with a Three-Month Physical Training Program on the Development of Adolescent Basketball Players

The Effects of Chiropractic Care Combine with a Three-Month Physical
Training Program on the Development of Adolescent Basketball Players

European Journal of Sport Sciences
September 2024; Vol. 3; No. 4; pp. 18-24

Qian Zhang, Jeng-Sheng Yang, Guangyue Qi, Yifei Ma, Xuyang Zhang. This study cites 25 references.

This study assessed the effect of routine chiropractic care combined with a three-month strength and conditioning program on the physical performance of adolescent basketball players; the control group did not have any chiropractic care, they only did the three-month strength and conditioning program.

The major objective of this study was to use a 3-month strength and conditioning program to train adolescent basketball athletes combined with routine chiropractic cervical manipulation and test their performance in agility, muscular strength, muscular endurance, and speed.

Thirty-one male athletes, aged 17–19, from an elite basketball training camp were divided into a chiropractic group and a control group (no chiropractic care).

In the chiropractic group, “all subjects received cervical manipulation one time per week done by a team chiropractor.” “All subjects receive chiropractic cervical adjustment (C1–C7) by utilizing a diversified adjustment technique.”

The program aimed to enhance agility, muscular strength, endurance, and speed. “The frequency of training was three days per week throughout the 12-week period.”

Assessments were taken at baseline, at 6 weeks, and after 12 weeks of intervention, using:

• The 3/4 court sprint

“Running speed is important for basketball; it was measured using a 3⁄4 of the court sprint test (22.86 m, [75 ft.]), which is also part of the NBA combined pre-draft test.”

• Box agility

“The box agility test is a special test for basketball players and is one of the basic tests in the NBA: Four cones were placed in a pro-size foul lane on a basketball court. Athletes start to run forward towards the baseline, then change movement to side shuffle at the cone. The shuffle to the next cone then changes to the back pedal up the lane to the next cone on the foul lane. The side shuffle is then changed again to the starting point. After touching the starting cone with the hand, the reverse direction side shuffled to the opposite cone on the foul line. The same pattern is used to return the starting cone.”

• 1 RM bench press

The upper body strength was tested using a 1 RM bench press (kg). Athletes started with 85% of their recent maximum load. They could adjust the load based on their choice. Any inability to complete the test and improper technique were considered failures.

• 1 RM back squat

Lower body strength was tested using a 1 RM squat (kg). Athletes started standing with their feet shoulder-width apart. The athletes started by performing a back squat with 85% of their recent maximum load. Any inability to complete the test and improper technique were considered failures.

• 65 kg (143 lbs.) supine bench press for maximum reps

They used a 65 kg bench press for maximum repetitions to test the subject’s muscular endurance. Athletes performed the maximum number of full repetitions, and results were recorded.

• The 17-line shuttle run

Lower body muscular endurance was tested through the timed 17-line shuttle run.

“No [prior] research has specifically studied the combined effects of chiropractic manipulation and strength conditioning on adolescent athletes to determine if this combination could provide positive benefits for their development.”

KEY POINTS FROM THIS ARTICLE:

1) “Chiropractic care has gained popularity, especially among young athletes.”

2) “Recent research suggests that regular chiropractic adjustments can assist with improving joint mobility, enhance athletic performance, and reduce the risk of injuries by ensuring proper alignment of the spine and musculoskeletal system.”

3) “With the prevalence of chiropractic care, it is important to investigate its combination with strength conditioning programs.”

4) “Recent research has shown physiological benefits derived from chiropractic treatments that surpass placebo effects.”

• Chiropractic care can reduce muscle inhibition.

5) Findings:

• The chiropractic group showed significant improvements in all metrics except the box agility test, while the control group exhibited fewer substantial changes.

6) Conclusions:

• “Results indicate that structured strength and conditioning programs combined with chiropractic adjustment significantly enhance adolescent athletes’ physical performance.”
• “The study concludes that consistent chiropractic care and professionally supervised training are beneficial for adolescent athletes’ development, suggesting the integration of such programs into training routines for adolescent athletes [would] improve their physical capabilities and minimize injury risks.” [Key Point]
• “A specific, professionally conducted strength and conditioning program, combined with chiropractic care, can significantly improve the physical performance of adolescent athletes.” [Key Point]
• “Our study results indicated that athletes who were professionally trained for three months combined with chiropractic care could have a significant improvement in their general strength, muscular endurance, speed, and agility compared with a control group that only showed a minor improvement in each category.” [Key Point]
• “A three-month strength training program combined with chiropractic care could greatly benefit adolescent athletes’ physical performance.”
• “Chiropractic manipulation helped stimulate the neuromuscular system.”
  • “These findings align with other chiropractic literature, which emphasizes the improvement of neurological integrity as a key factor in the beneficial effects of chiropractic manipulation.”
• “Weekly chiropractic care addresses subluxation issues related to sports activities, and may potentially enhance the effectiveness of training programs and possibly reduce the risk of injury.”