The Influence of Aerobic Capacity on Anaerobic Performance and Recovery Indices in Basketball Players

This study examined the effect of aerobic capacity on performance, fatigue, and heart rate recovery following high-intensity anaerobic exercise in national-level basketball players. Twenty subjects (19.0 ± 1.7 years, 88.4 ± 8.0 kg, 194.2 ± 6.0 cm, 50.2 ± 3.8 ml·kg·min^-1) participated in this investigation. Each subject performed a treadmill test to determine maximal oxygen consumption (Vo₂max), a Wingate Anaerobic Power Test (WAnT), and a field test of anaerobic power common to basketball players (line drill). The line drill is a continuous 143-m sprint with several changes of direction. The line drill was performed 3 times (T1, T2, and T3) with a 2-minute passive rest between each sprint. A moderate correlation was seen between Vo2max and mean power of the WAnT (r = 0.57). However, no significant relationship was observed between Vo₂max and the fatigue index in either the WAnT (r = -0.23) or line drill (r = 0.01). Little to no correlation was observed between Vo₂max and heart rate recovery in the WAnT (r = -0.22) and line drill (r = -0.04, r = -0.19, and r = -0.30 in T1, T2, and T3, respectively). These results showed little to no relationship between aerobic capacity and recovery indices from high-intensity exercise in basketball players.