Effects of Variable Resistance Training Within Complex Training on Neuromuscular Adaptations in Collegiate Basketball Players

The aim of this study was to investigate the differences in neuromuscular performance between variable  resistance training and constant resistance training within complex training. Twenty-one well-trained collegiate  basketball players were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (variable resistance training) or a control  group (constant resistance training) and completed a twice weekly training program over an 8-week period. Training  programs were the same except that the experimental group included variable resistance via elastic bands (40% of the  total load). Maximum strength, vertical jump, horizontal jump, and sprint performance were assessed pre- and post?intervention. Both groups demonstrated significant increases in the back squat 1RM (experimental group +36.5% and  control group +32.3%, both p < 0.001), countermovement jump (experimental group +12.9%, p = 0.002 and control  group +5.6%, p = 0.02), and squat jump performance (experimental group +21.4% and control group +12.9%, both p <  0.001), whereas standing broad jump performance improved only in the experimental group (+2.9%, p = 0.029).  Additionally, the experimental group showed significant improvement in the squat jump (p = 0.014) compared with the  control group. However, no statistically significant differences were found between groups for countermovement jump  (p = 0.06) and sprint performance at 10 m (p = 0.153) and 20 m (p = 0.076). We may conclude that both training  modalities showed similar improvements in maximum strength. Performing variable resistance training within a  complex training program is more efficient to enhance selective power performance in well-trained collegiate basketball  players.